Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 18

Season eighteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 17, 2014, on the ABC network.

On May 20, 2014, Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy were crowned the champions, while snowboarder Amy Purdy and Derek Hough finished in second place, and actress Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas finished in third.

This season was also first to feature a new twist called "The Switch Up", which gave viewers the opportunity to vote and change up the celebrity/professional pairings for a week during the season. Each celebrity was required to perform with a new pro for one week.

Couples
This season featured twelve celebrity contestants. The cast and their professional partners were revealed on March 4, 2014, on Good Morning America. Sasha Farber returned to the dance troupe, while Witney Carson and Henry Byalikov were elevated to professional status, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy also returned following a two-season hiatus. Jenna Johnson, who competed on season ten of So You Think You Can Dance, and Artem Chigvintsev, who was a professional on the British Strictly Come Dancing, joined the dance troupe.

Host and judges
Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges; Tom Bergeron returned as host, while Erin Andrews replaced Brooke Burke Charvet as co-host. Bandleader Ray Chew replaced the Harold Wheeler orchestra and singers.

Beginning in week three, a celebrity guest judge joined the judges panel. As a result, couples could receive a top score of 40 for their dances.

Scoring chart
The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in  with a double-dagger (‡).

Color key: • {{legend|gold|Winners}}

• {{legend|silver|Runners-up}}

• {{legend|tan|Third place}}

• {{legend|lightgreen|Withdrew from competition}}

• {{legend|#f4c7b8|Eliminated}}
 * Notes

Weekly scores
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1: First Dances
Couples performed either the cha-cha-cha, contemporary, or the foxtrot, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 2: Celebrity's Pick Night
Couples are listed in the order they performed. Two couples were eliminated at the end of the night. Diana Nyad and Henry Byalikov were eliminated before they had a chance to perform their cha-cha-cha, although they did perform in exhibition and received no scores from the judges.

Week 3: Most Memorable Year Night
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Robin Roberts, Bruno Tonioli.

At the beginning of the show, it was announced that Billy Dee Williams had to withdraw from the competition due to a chronic back problem. Therefore, no one was eliminated at the end of the show. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 4: Switch-Up Night
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.

The couples switched professional partners this week and learned a new dance style. Due to the nature of the week, no elimination took place at the end of the show. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 5: Disney Night
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Donny Osmond, Bruno Tonioli.

Couples performed one unlearned dance to a song from a Disney film. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 6: Party Anthems Night
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Redfoo, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 7: Latin Night
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Ricky Martin, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Couples performed one unlearned dance style and one team dance. Due to an injury suffered by Amy Purdy after performing her rumba, Team Loca's dance was scored based on the rehearsal footage filmed prior to the live show. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 8: Celebrity Dance Duels Night
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Abby Lee Miller, Bruno Tonioli.

Although billed as "dance duels," the two celebrities in each pairing received the same score. During the routine, the celebrities were required to dance with each other for 20 seconds on the dance floor without their professional partners. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 9: American Icons Night
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Kenny Ortega, Bruno Tonioli.

The semifinalists performed two unlearned dances to songs by American music icons. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 10: Finals
The four finalists performed two dances on the first night: the first was a new routine using the same dance style the celebrities had performed in week four with their switch-up partners, but now with their regular pro partners, and the second was a freestyle dance. On the second night, the couples danced a fusion dance of two previously learned dance styles. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Night 1
 * Night 2

Dance chart
The couples performed the following each week: Color key:
 * Week 1: One unlearned dance (cha-cha-cha, contemporary, or foxtrot)
 * Week 2: One unlearned dance
 * Week 3: One unlearned dance
 * Week 4: One unlearned dance
 * Week 5: One unlearned dance
 * Week 6: One unlearned dance
 * Week 7: One unlearned dance & team dance
 * Week 8: One unlearned dance & dance duel
 * Week 9: Two unlearned dances
 * Week 10 (Finals, Night 1): "Partner Switch-Up Night" dance & freestyle
 * Week 10 (Finals, Night 2): Fusion dance

• {{legend|lightblue|No scores received}}
 * Notes