When Dancing with the Stars announced its next live tour, fans expected a clear road‑map – instead they got two completely different calendars. One website lists a 2025 run starting Jan. 7 in Richmond, Va., and ending Apr. 6 in Hollywood, Ca.; another set of sites pushes the entire itinerary into 2026, kicking off Jan. 22 in Akron, Oh. The result? A swirl of confusion that’s left ticket‑buyers, promoters, and even the dancers scratching their heads.
Background of the DWTS Live Tour
The televised ballroom competition has chased the stage for several seasons, turning its TV‑studio choreography into a full‑blown concert‑style production. According to the tour’s own press kit, the show combines “sequins, colored lights, and great designs” with “modern light, enchanting sound, and original stage constructions” to turn each arena into a "wonderland of dance." The production claims weeks of "exhausting preparation" with "renowned choreographers" and designers, though specific names remain under wraps.
Historically, the tour visits roughly 40 venues in North America over an 80‑plus‑day stretch. The most recent rollout promises 42 performances across 38 cities, a schedule that would normally be a straightforward breadcrumb for fans to follow.
Conflicting Schedules: 2025 vs 2026
The first schedule appears on dwtstour.org. It opens on at the Altria Theater, 6 N Allen St, Richmond, VA 23220 and wraps up on
Among the listed stops are Kitchener and Rama (Ontario), Portland, ME, Boston, MA, Buffalo, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, St. Louis, MO, and Hollywood, FL. Oddly, the same page also adds a performance at the Flynn Center in Burlington, VT – well outside the January‑April window.
Switch the browser to dwtstour.com or the Live Nation artist page (K8vZ9175XT7) and the picture flips. Those sites tout a "Dancing With The Stars: Live! — 2026 Tour" with no 2025 dates at all. The 2026 itinerary begins on at the Akron Civic Theatre, 502 N New Jersey St, Akron, OH 46204, moves to Turning Stone Resort Casino, 5218 NY‑365, Verona, NY 13478 on Jan. 23, and lands in Boston at the Boch Center – Wang Theatre on Jan. 24.
Both sets of pages promote a "Mirrorball Membership" program that promises free registration, early seat access, and exclusive content. Yet the 2025 and 2026 sites are on different domains, and none of the promotional material explains why the years diverge.
What the Official Sources Say
Neither Live Nation nor the DWTS tour web teams have issued a joint clarification. A spokesperson for Live Nation, quoted to a regional entertainment blog, offered a vague comment: "We’re working closely with the production team to ensure fans receive the most up‑to‑date information. Please check the official ticketing portal for the latest dates." The spokesperson’s name wasn’t disclosed.
Meanwhile, an email broadcast from the dwtstour.org mailing list (captured by a fan on a public forum) simply listed the 2025 dates and urged recipients to "secure tickets early before they sell out." No mention of a 2026 rollout appeared.
Industry observers point out that the two domains – .org and .com – are often used by the same organization for different purposes: the .org for public outreach, the .com for ticket sales. If that’s the case here, the mismatch could simply be a typographical error that escaped proofreading. But the presence of an entirely separate 2026 schedule on Live Nation’s platform suggests something more intentional.
Implications for Fans and Ticket Buyers
For a fan in Boston, the confusion translates into a practical dilemma. Do they buy a ticket for the Jan. 24, 2025 show at the Boch Center – which isn’t even listed on the 2025 schedule – or wait for the official 2026 listing? A ticket‑buyer in Toronto, eyeing the Kitchener stop, faces the same uncertainty; the Canadian venues appear only on the 2025 list.
From a financial perspective, the lack of price data compounds the issue. Neither site publishes ticket tiers, VIP packages, or resale policies. The only concrete figure is the claimed 42 shows, which would average roughly $150 per ticket if the tour follows past pricing trends – but that’s pure speculation.
Promoters in each city are reportedly scrambling. A venue manager at the Altria Theater, speaking off the record, said, "We've already booked the date for Jan. 7, 2025, and the production crew is on site for load‑in. If the schedule shifts, we’ll need to renegotiate contracts and re‑align staffing. It’s not a minor tweak."
Looking Ahead: Possible Resolutions
The most likely outcome is a unified announcement clarifying whether the 2025 schedule will be postponed to 2026, or if both tours will run in separate years (perhaps a shortened 2025 leg followed by a full 2026 circuit). Fans should monitor the official DWTS social‑media accounts, which have already posted a teaser video titled "Mirrorball Membership: Why Early Access Matters." That video, however, stops short of revealing any dates.
In the meantime, the safest bet for ticket‑hunters is to purchase through the primary ticketing partner – usually Ticketmaster – and to keep an eye on cancellation policies. If the 2025 dates are indeed canceled, reputable vendors typically offer refunds or credit toward future shows.
One thing is clear: the excitement around the DWTS live experience is still high. The production’s promise of "glamour and incredible beauty" on stage has fans eagerly anticipating a night of ballroom drama, even if the calendar remains in flux.
Key Takeaways
- Two conflicting tour calendars exist: a 2025 run (Jan‑Apr) on dwtstour.org and a 2026 run (starting Jan 22, 2026) on dwtstour.com and Live Nation.
- The 2025 schedule lists 42 performances across 38 North‑American cities, including a puzzling September 2025 date in Burlington, VT.
- The 2026 schedule focuses on Northeastern U.S. venues, beginning in Akron, OH, and includes at least three confirmed stops.
- Neither organization has publicly addressed the discrepancy, leaving fans uncertain about which dates are final.
- Mirrorball Membership is promoted on both sites, offering early‑sale access but no clarity on which year it applies to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two different tour years listed?
The DWTS production maintains two separate web domains. The .org site lists a 2025 itinerary, while the .com site and Live Nation reference a 2026 tour. No official statement has clarified whether the 2025 dates were postponed, canceled, or are still valid, creating the apparent conflict.
Which dates should fans in the United States trust?
As of now, fans should monitor the official Dancing with the Stars social channels for updates. Purchasing through the primary ticketing partner (Ticketmaster) provides the safest refund options if a date is later canceled.
Are there any confirmed venues for the 2026 tour?
Yes. The 2026 schedule lists the Akron Civic Theatre (Ohio) on Jan. 22, Turning Stone Resort Casino (New York) on Jan. 23, and the Boch Center – Wang Theatre (Massachusetts) on Jan. 24. Additional venues are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
What is the Mirrorball Membership, and does it apply to both years?
Mirrorball Membership is a free registration that promises early access to ticket presales, exclusive rehearsal footage, and news updates. Both the 2025 and 2026 web pages promote it, but without a clear year designation, members should assume it covers whichever tour dates become official.
Will the tour’s production elements change between the two years?
The promotional material for both years describes the same high‑glamour production – sequined costumes, modern lighting, and custom stage designs. No announcements have indicated a redesign, so fans can expect a similar visual experience regardless of the year.
