Couples On July 7, 2023,
Ariana Madix was the first celebrity participant announced for the season. On August 21, 2023,
The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson was announced as the second celebrity participant during the
season 20 After the Final Rose special. On August 28, 2023, it was reported that
Mira Sorvino was the third celebrity participant to join the cast. On September 12, 2023, it was announced that
Jamie Lynn Spears was the fourth celebrity participant to join the cast and would be partnered with
Alan Bersten. On September 21, 2023,
Matt Walsh announced that he was pausing his involvement with the season until the
WGA strike and the
AMPTP come to an agreement. On September 25, Walsh officially rejoined the lineup after a tentative agreement between the writers and the studios was made. On November 20, 2022,
Cheryl Burke announced her final retirement from the show after 26 seasons. On March 13, 2023,
Mark Ballas reported his retirement from the show after 20 seasons. On August 27, 2023, it was announced that
Witney Carson would not be returning this season. On August 31, 2023,
Louis van Amstel confirmed that he would also not be returning as a professional dancer.
Jenna Johnson returned to the lineup after taking the previous season off.
Rylee Arnold, younger sister of
Lindsay Arnold and former
Dancing with the Stars: Juniors pro, joined the show as a first time-pro. On October 3, 2023,
Artem Chigvintsev announced that he had tested positive for
COVID-19 and would miss that night's performance.
Ezra Sosa replaced him as Charity Lawson's dance partner for the week.
Hosts and judges On March 17, 2023, it was revealed that
Tyra Banks would be leaving the series after hosting the previous three seasons. Three days later, it was announced that
Julianne Hough would be joining the series as co-host, with
Alfonso Ribeiro assuming Banks' previous role. Judges
Derek Hough,
Carrie Ann Inaba, and
Bruno Tonioli all returned for the season, with Hough being promoted to head judge, following the retirement and death of head judge
Len Goodman. On October 10,
Michael Strahan served as a guest judge. On October 23, it was announced that
Billy Porter would serve as a guest judge on the November 14 episode, which celebrated the music of
Whitney Houston. On October 27, it was announced that
Niecy Nash-Betts would appear as a guest judge on the October 31 Halloween episode. Beginning with this season, the Mirrorball Trophy was renamed the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in Goodman's honor.
Dance troupe The dance troupe was eliminated this season. == Scoring chart ==