Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 29

Season twenty-nine of the American reality competition series Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 14, 2020 on ABC. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was filmed without a live studio audience.

On November 23, The Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe and Artem Chigvintsev were crowned the champions, while Catfish host Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson finished in second place, rapper and singer Nelly and Daniella Karagach finished in third place, and actress Justina Machado and Sasha Farber finished in fourth.

Couples
This season featured fifteen celebrity contestants. Continuing from last season, the couples were not announced in advance and were instead revealed on the season premiere. During The Bachelor: Greatest Seasons - Ever!, season 11's Bachelorette, Kaitlyn Bristowe, was announced as the first celebrity participant. On August 24, 2020, it was reported that AJ McLean, member of Backstreet Boys, would be a celebrity participant as well; McLean was later officially revealed on August 27. On August 29, 2020, it was reported that Anne Heche, Jesse Metcalfe, and Vernon Davis would be celebrity participants in the season. The other celebrity participants were revealed on Good Morning America on September 2.

Fourteen of the professional dancers was announced on Good Morning America on August 18, 2020, with the fifteenth professional announced on August 24. Ten professionals from the previous season returned, along with Sharna Burgess, Artem Chigvintsev, and Keo Motsepe, all of whom last competed in season 27. Two new pros were added: Daniella Karagach, previously a featured dancer, and Britt Stewart, a former troupe member, who is the first black female to become a pro.

Hosts and judges
On July 13, 2020, it was announced that Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews would not return as hosts. The next day, it was announced that Tyra Banks was hired as the new host and would also serve as an executive producer. Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges for the season.

On September 8, 2020, it was announced that Derek Hough, who appeared as a professional partner in 17 of the show's 29 seasons, would return to the show to fill in for Len Goodman, due to Goodman being unable to travel with COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. Goodman still appeared in periodic pre-recorded video segments.

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|#d1c571|Fourth place}}

• {{legend|lightblue|Bottom two or three}}

• {{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, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1: First Dances
For the second time in the show's history, the official partnerships were revealed to the public during the live broadcast.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 2: First Elimination
The couples performed one unlearned dance, and are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Carrie Ann: Carole & Pasha
 * Bruno: Charles & Emma
 * Derek: Carole & Pasha

Week 3: Disney Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance to songs from Disney films. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Derek: Anne & Keo
 * Bruno: Anne & Keo
 * Carrie Ann: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Anne & Keo

Week 4: Top 13
The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Carrie Ann: Monica & Val
 * Derek: Monica & Val
 * Bruno: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Monica & Val

Week 5: '80s Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance to a song released in the 1980s. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Bruno: Vernon & Peta
 * Carrie Ann: Vernon & Peta
 * Derek: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Vernon & Peta

Week 6: Top 11
The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Derek: Johnny & Britt
 * Carrie Ann: Vernon & Peta
 * Bruno: Johnny & Britt

Week 7: Villains Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance dressed as villains from a movie or television show. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Bruno: Jeannie & Brandon
 * Derek: Monica & Val
 * Carrie Ann: Jeannie & Brandon

Week 8: Double Elimination Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance and a dance relay with two other couples. Hours before the episode aired, Jeannie Mai had to withdraw from the competition after being hospitalized for epiglottitis. As a result, the originally planned double elimination did not take place, only one other couple was eliminated. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Carrie Ann: Skai & Alan
 * Bruno: Skai & Alan
 * Derek: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Skai & Alan

Week 9: Icons Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance dressed as an icon and participated in paired dance-offs for extra points. Nev & Jenna were immune from the dance-off as a result of their week 8 performance and a tie-breaker of having the highest total season score. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Bruno: Johnny & Britt
 * Derek: AJ & Cheryl
 * Carrie Ann: Johnny & Britt

Week 10: Semifinals
During the first round, the couples performed a redemption dance to a new song that was coached by one of the four judges. In the second round, they performed one unlearned dance. Two couples were sent home at the end of the night in a double elimination. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Judges' votes to save
 * Derek: Justina & Sasha
 * Carrie Ann: Justina & Sasha
 * Bruno: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Justina & Sasha

Week 11: Finale
The couples performed their favorite dance of the season and their freestyle routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Dance chart
The couples performed the following each week:
 * Week 1: One unlearned dance
 * 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
 * Week 8: One unlearned dance & dance relay
 * Week 9: One unlearned dance & dance-off
 * Week 10 (Semifinals): One unlearned dance & redemption dance
 * Week 11 (Finale): Favorite dance & freestyle