Disney magic took over the Dancing With the Stars ballroom on November 2, but this year's celebration came with a theatrical twist. The eight remaining celebrity couples performed routines inspired by Disney stories and their Broadway adaptations, with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo joining the judging panel. The special Monday broadcast also brought back team dances, introduced a new immunity reward and featured performances from several Broadway guest artists.
Why Everyone Is Talking About Them
Disney Night is a familiar highlight of Dancing With the Stars, but the 2026 edition offered something different. Rather than simply recreating recognizable moments from animated films, the contestants drew inspiration from Disney's Broadway productions, bringing theatrical storytelling into their ballroom performances.
The guest judging appointment also attracted attention. Cynthia Erivo, known for her role in Wicked, joined Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. Her appearance connected the competition with the musical theater world that inspired the evening's theme.
There was another reason for the excitement: the return of team dances. The group performances had not featured in the competition since 2024, making their comeback a notable addition to season 35.
With eight couples still competing, the episode also carried meaningful competitive consequences. The highest-ranked couple after the individual dances would receive immunity from the following week's dance-off, giving the leaderboard a new level of importance.
What Happened
The November 2 episode featured eight celebrity-professional partnerships, each assigned a routine inspired by a Disney musical.
The individual performances included:
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: A quickstep inspired by Hercules, set to A Star Is Born.
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: A Peter Pan-inspired jive to You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: A contemporary routine to Easy as Life from Aida.
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson: A jazz performance to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins.
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: A paso doble inspired by Hamilton, performed to Satisfied.
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: A quickstep to Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast.
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold: A waltz to I See the Light from Tangled.
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: A samba to Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid.
The evening opened with a theatrical group performance to Circle of Life/Nants Ingonyama from The Lion King. Other featured numbers included Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Seize the Day from Newsies, The Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman and Friend Like Me from Aladdin.
The team competition divided the celebrities into two groups. Team Slaytopia, led by Tatyana Ali, performed Zoo from Zootopia 2. Its lineup included Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa. Alfonso Ribeiro joined the team.
Team Wildcats, captained by Connor Wood, performed We're All in This Together from High School Musical. The group included Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, and Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, with Julianne Hough joining the performance.
The reported individual scores included 40 out of 40 for Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, 34 for Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, 33 for Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, and 32 for Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas. Complete scores for the other couples were not available in the supplied reporting.
One familiar face was absent. Professional dancer Adele Zaikman announced that illness would prevent her from participating in the opening number. Although she and celebrity partner Conner Leavitt had been eliminated during the first week, Zaikman had continued appearing in group performances and troupe numbers.
What They Said
Zaikman explained her absence in an Instagram Story ahead of the broadcast.
I'm sadly feeling unwell and won't be performing in the opening number on Dancing with the Stars tomorrow.
She also expressed disappointment about missing the show, saying she would use the time to take care of herself and cheer on the ballroom performers from home.
Meanwhile, the judges offered contrasting reactions to the celebrity routines. Amber Glenn received praise for her strength and commanding opening performance, while Maura Higgins' Peter Pan-inspired jive attracted criticism for its energy level. Higgins herself acknowledged the difficulty of the dance, joking that the experience felt like Tinker Hell.
Tatyana Ali also had a memorable moment. Carrie Ann Inaba praised her contemporary performance and awarded her the first nine of Ali's season.
The Reaction
The Broadway theme gave viewers a different kind of Disney Night, combining recognizable movie songs with theatrical choreography and live guest performances. The addition of Cynthia Erivo also gave the episode a direct connection to the musical theater world.
The team dances brought another dimension to the competition. Instead of relying entirely on individual partnerships, contestants had to work together in larger performances, with their professional partners coordinating choreography across the groups.
For viewers following the competition, the immunity reward added a strategic element. A strong individual performance could do more than improve a couple's position on the leaderboard: it could also protect them from the following week's dance-off.
The voting system remained important. According to The Hollywood Reporter, viewers could submit up to 10 votes per couple through each available method, using the ABC website and text voting. Voting took place during the East Coast broadcast and closed shortly after the final performance, meaning West Coast viewers had a limited window to participate.
What Happens Next
Dancing With the Stars is scheduled to return on November 10, 2026, for Grammy Night. The competition's next stage will follow the Disney Night performances and the elimination process.
Season 35 is also approaching its final stretch. The announced schedule identifies Week 9 as Grammy Night, Week 10 as the semifinals and Week 11 as the finale. The season 35 finale is scheduled for November 24, with Adele Zaikman and her former celebrity partner Conner Leavitt expected to return.
For the remaining couples, the immediate challenge is maintaining their scores and viewer support as the competition moves toward the semifinals. Disney Night's immunity reward makes the individual leaderboard particularly significant heading into the next round.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dancing With the Stars Disney Night 2026?
Disney Night aired Monday, November 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, rather than its usual Tuesday schedule.
Why did Dancing With the Stars move to Monday?
The episode was moved because ABC scheduled its 2026 Election Night coverage for Tuesday, November 3.
Who was the guest judge on DWTS Disney Night?
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo joined Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough as a guest judge.
Who received the highest reported Disney Night score?
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson received a perfect 40 out of 40 for their Mary Poppins-inspired jazz routine.
When does Dancing With the Stars return after Disney Night?
The next episode is scheduled for November 10, 2026, with Grammy Night as the theme.
For additional coverage, read the episode reporting from The Hollywood Reporter, TODAY.com and TV Insider.