Overview
- The anniversary installment aired live Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with next‑day streaming on Hulu.
- Bergeron joined Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli on the panel in his first ballroom appearance since he was let go in 2020.
- Derek Hough choreographed an opening number featuring six original Season 1 pros, and a separate tribute by Ezra Sosa and Rylee Arnold honored performers the show has lost.
- Round one had couples dance to songs tied to iconic past freestyles, followed by a relay twist where celebrities partnered with returning champions for bonus points; Whitney Leavitt received relay immunity based on prior scores.
- Confirmed relay pairings: Dylan Efron–Rumer Willis, Alix Earle–Joey Graziadei, Andy Richter–Kaitlyn Bristowe, Elaine Hendrix–Rashad Jennings, Jordan Chiles–Apolo Anton Ohno, and Robert Irwin–Xochitl Gomez, while Bergeron reiterated he has no plans to compete himself.