We know you’ve been wondering…

Channel 7

Dancing With The Stars has been hooking in Australian audiences for over 20 years. Now in its 22nd season, DWTS is one of Australia’s longest-running reality shows. But what does filming the celebrity dance competition actually entail?

This season, we’ve seen crowds whoop and roar at the dancefloor antics of Aussie celebs like Osher Gunsberg, Brittany Hockley and more. But how much of what we see on screen reflects what happened in the room? And do the contestants get more than one take at the recording?

Here, all your behind-the-scenes questions about Dancing With The Stars Australia, answered.

Is Dancing With The Stars pre-recorded?

Dancing With The Stars Australia started airing pre-recorded episodes from the 18th season in 2021. Prior to this, the series was shown live to audiences at home.

The change came after Channel 7 regained the rights to the show, after it briefly moved to Channel 10 in 2019 and 2020.

Even years after this change, audiences aren’t fond of the current pre-recorded format, taking to online forums and comment sections to vent their frustrations.
Mia Fevola on Dancing With The Stars 2025. (Credit: Channel 7)
In 2025, one of the show’s contestants, boxer Harry Garside, lamented the pre-recorded structure of Dancing With The Stars.

“I know that in seasons prior, they had a lot more time. I think this [season] was a condensed version. And then also [there’s] the added layer of it being pre-recorded. It would be quite amazing if, as we were dancing, we were almost semi-live,” he told Yahoo! Lifestyle.

For the 2025 season, the show was recorded in February and March, and premiered on Channel 7 in July that same year.

Where is Dancing With The Stars Australia filmed?

Dancing With The Stars Australia is filmed in Sydney at Disney Studios in the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park.

How do you get on the audience for Dancing With The Stars Australia?

If you’re one of the many who would love to still watch Dancing With The Stars live, you can join get tickets to watch the taping of the show.

You can create a free membership via the website That’s The Ticket, who will keep you alerted if and when a new season prepares for filming. From here, you can register your interest and apply to purchase tickets. Tickets are on an offer-only basis, and you have 48 hours to accept an offer.

Is Dancing With The Stars predetermined?

The winner of Dancing With The Stars Australia is NOT predetermined.

Although the episodes are filmed ahead of time, audience voting still happens after every aired episode — and these votes contribute to the final results. Each week, the contestant with the lowest combined score from both the judges and audience is eliminated.

Furthermore, season 22 contestant Harry Garside confirmed that “no one got a second shot” at filming their dance numbers for the audience and judges. There was, however, one exception.

“The only time someone did, I think, was when Brittany [Hockley]’s dress fell off or something happened. That was the only time, and that was understandable,” he told Yahoo!.

Do contestants on Dancing with the Stars get paid?

The celebrity contestants on Dancing With The Stars do get paid—and quite a handsome sum!

According to Woman’s Day, some contestants in 2025 are receiving $100,000 for being on the show—but not all celebrities command the same fee.

Rebecca Gibney, Osher Gunsberg and Shaun Micallef were each rumoured to have received a $100k pay cheque. However, Susie O’Neill, Trent Cotchin and Michael Usher received $47,000, while everyone else received $27,000.
The 2025 contestants are each paid differently. (Credit: Channel 7)
In 2023 Woman’s Day reported that each contestant received “just under $50,000” each, regardless of how far they make it in the competition.

“The cast all rehearsed and trained as if they were going to the finale. They all put in the same amount of time, so they were all paid for five weeks of their time,” an inside source told the publication at the time.

Perhaps next year, they need to return to the one-sum-fits-all idea!