Fox's Popular Dance Series Officially Scrapped After 18 Seasons

Fox is officially moving on from one of its longest-running reality competition shows. After nearly two decades on air, the network has confirmed there are currently no plans to continue the dance series that helped launch the careers of several performers and choreographers.

The update ends months of speculation after the show quietly disappeared from Fox’s upcoming programming lineup.

So You Think You Can Dance confirmed to be canceled after 18 seasons

Fox executive Rob Wade confirmed the network is not planning another season of So You Think You Can Dance. The show last aired in May 2024 and was missing from Fox’s newly announced 2026-27 slate, which includes more than 15 unscripted programs.

Wade acknowledged the series was “a really important show in the history of Fox,” but said there are “no plans to order another season” right now. He also noted conversations had taken place internally, though nothing official moved forward (via Variety).

The dance competition first premiered in 2005 and quickly became one of Fox’s most recognizable summer shows. Over 18 seasons, it built a loyal audience by mixing emotional contestant stories with intense choreography and live weekly eliminations. Fans also connected with how the show introduced different dance styles to mainstream television, from hip-hop and ballroom to contemporary and jazz.

The series faced several setbacks during its later years. Production paused for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic before returning with Season 17. That season featured judges JoJo Siwa, Matthew Morrison, and Twitch. Morrison later exited the show after failing to follow “competition production protocols,” with Leah Remini stepping in.

Season 18 attempted a refresh by adding documentary-style footage alongside traditional dance battles and the $100,000 grand prize competition. Nigel Lythgoe was originally expected to return before stepping away following sexual assault lawsuits, which he denied. Siwa later joined the panel with Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Even with its uneven final years, the series remained one of television’s most influential dance competitions and helped inspire multiple international versions.