How ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Is Changing Things Up For Season 29

In more ways than one, “Dancing With the Stars” Season 29 may just be the most different one yet.

The new season, which begins airing on Monday, Sept. 14, is the first not only with some big changes in terms of the cast, but also the first to air during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought on a whole different set of challenges for the long-running ABC series. While not every detail has been revealed about how the show is handling the changes necessary for the pandemic, or even some of the ways it will change things up for its promised “next level,” some details have emerged. Here is everything we know so far.

Biggest Cast In Years

For the first time since Season 9, which aired in 2009, the show seems to be bringing on a cast that consists of more than 12 or 13 teams, with 15 celebs and pros attached to the season. In addition to Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Cheryl Burke, Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach, Keo Motsepe, Peta Murgatroyd, Pasha Pashkov, Gleb Savchenko and Emma Slater returning, the show has once again brought back Sharna Burgess and Artem Chigvintsev, who were ousted from Season 28, as well a Britt Stewart, who was promoted from the troupe and last seen in Season 27.

As for the cast of celebrities, the official participants are Monica Aldama, Carole Baskin, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Vernon Davis, Anne Heche, Skai Jackson, Justina Machado, Jeannie Mai, AJ McLean, Jesse Metcalfe, Nelly, Charles Oakley, Nev Schulman, Chrishell Stause and Johnny Weir. Much like in Season 28, the official partnerships have not yet been revealed.

New Host

While fans may have been excited to see the return of pros like Sharna and Artem, they are going to be missing out on the hosts they’ve come to know and love, after Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews were let go by ABC this summer. They have since been replaced by Tyra Banks, who has said the show would be “next level” going forward.

Quarantined Pros/Couples

Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be some new rules the pros and celebrities will need to follow when it comes to making sure everyone stays safe—especially when it comes to quarantining. After the pro lineup was announced in August, Sasha and Emma revealed to Entertainment Tonight that the pros on the show who were married—which included them, Val Chmerkovskiy, Jenna Johnson, Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach, would all have to live apart for the duration of the season. It is unclear if any other pros and celebs participating are also expected to quarantine away from their spouses/partners or families, or if teams will temporarily quarantine together.

Live Audience

It hasn’t been officially stated yet, but a live audience seems to likely to be out, also due to the pandemic. While that may require some changes on the dance floor in terms of the atmosphere for the competition, voting would not be affected, as fans were always able to vote for their favorites via phone, text and social media. It’s unclear if the Judges’ Save will return after its controversial introduction in Season 28.

Derek Hough Returns

Another surprising announcement for the show was the reveal that six-time Mirrorball Champ Derek Hough, who left the show after Season 23, would be returning in some capacity during Season 29. The reason for his return will be revealed on “Good Morning America” Sept. 8, but fans have already begun to speculate that he isn’t coming back as a pro, but rather as a choreographer or judge.

It’s unclear if the show’s head choreographer, Mandy Moore, is not returning, nor has anything been said about judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Toniolo and Len Goodman. However, Goodman did previously state that COVID-19 travel restrictions could force him to sit out the season, which would mean that Derek could be filling in for him. If that were the case, it wouldn’t be the first time Len sat out a season-he didn’t participate in Season 21, and Derek’s sister, Julianne, also a former pro, was bumped up from her role as a fourth judge in Seasons 19 and 20 to his spot as Head Judge for that run.

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 29 premieres Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.