“Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 Premiere Hits 6.7 Million Viewers, Best Opener in Six Years
“Dancing With the Stars” opened its Season 35 premiere on Tuesday night, drawing a strong 6.7 million viewers. That’s a 24% increase from the performance of the Season 34 premiere, which drew 5.4 million viewers in 2025. Tuesday’s episode also marks the series’ best opener in six years, since Season 29 launched with 8.1 million viewers in 2020.
The show also improved by 40% on last year’s rating among adults 18-49, jumping from a 1.06 to 1.48 — the best-rated “Dancing With the Stars” premiere since 2017.
The Numbers Behind the Return
The 6.7 million total viewers puts Tuesday’s premiere ahead of last year’s opener. The show’s last best premiere came six years ago, when Season 29 launched with 8.1 million viewers in 2020. That remains the high mark for the franchise.
The 18-49 demographic jump is even more striking. The 1.48 rating among adults 18-49 is the best premiere since 2017. Last year’s premiere scored a 1.06 in that age bracket.
Both figures point in the same direction: more people tuned in, and the younger viewers were more engaged than they have been in years. The 24% increase in total viewers and the 40% gain in the key demographic suggest the premiere delivered across the board.
What Changed to Bring Viewers Back
The show’s return comes after a season that drew 5.4 million viewers for its premiere. The series has spent recent years drifting below its historic highs. The 6.7 million total for Season 35 represents a clear step forward.
The 40% improvement among adults 18-49 is particularly notable. That demographic is often the measure of a show’s commercial health, and a jump of this size suggests the premiere captured the attention of viewers who might have drifted away in past seasons.
The combination of the two metrics — total viewership and demographic strength — paints a picture of a show that is regaining its footing. Both the 24% increase in total viewers and the 40% gain in the key demographic indicate the premiere appealed to a broader audience while keeping younger viewers engaged.
Why the Premiere Matters Now
A strong premiere sets the tone for a season. For a show that has spent years working to regain its audience, Tuesday’s numbers signal that the effort may be paying off.
The 6.7 million total viewers and the 1.48 adult-18-49 rating provide a benchmark for the rest of the season. Whether the show can sustain this momentum depends on factors beyond the premiere, including the quality of subsequent episodes.
For now, the show has opened with a statement. The 6.7 million viewers and the 1.48 rating are early indicators of a season that could be stronger than expected.
The Road Ahead
Tuesday’s premiere was a single night. The question now is whether the audience holds. The show still has weeks of competition ahead, and the coming weeks will determine whether the premiere was a one-off or the start of a sustained recovery.
The 6.7 million total viewers and the 1.48 adult-18-49 rating give the show a platform to build on. Whether it can keep the momentum depends on the quality of the remaining episodes.
Key Facts
- Total viewers: 6.7 million for Season 35 premiere
- Last year’s premiere: 5.4 million viewers
- Best premiere ever: 8.1 million viewers, Season 29, 2020
- Adults 18-49 rating: 1.48 for Season 35 premiere
- Last best 18-49 premiere: 1.06, Season 34 premiere
- Last best 18-49 premiere since: 2017
Our View
The premiere was a success by any measure. The 6.7 million total viewers and the 1.48 adult-18-49 rating are the best the show has posted in years.
The show has shown it can draw a crowd when it wants to. The premiere was a strong start, and the numbers justify the optimism.
The 6.7 million total viewers and the 1.48 adult-18-49 rating are the first data point for Season 35. They show the show is back at a competitive level, and they give the producers a reason to believe the season can build on this foundation.
Whether the show can sustain this momentum will depend on more than tonight’s numbers. The coming weeks will test whether Tuesday’s surge was a one-off or the start of something lasting. For now, the show has answered the question of whether it can still command attention — and the answer, at least for one night, was a resounding yes.
See the a run of 33 images at Variety.
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