Season one features Lauren Sánchez as host, Nigel Lythgoe as the main judge, and Mary Murphy, Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels and Brian Friedman as most frequent guest judges.

Season two features new host Cat Deeley. The winner of season 2 receives a grand prize of $100,000, a new hybrid SUV, and a one-year contract with Celine Dion's Las Vegas show, A New Day.

Season five sees Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy returning as permanent judges and Cat Deeley returning to host. This is the first season to move the show a new stage and last season to be in CBS Studios.

Season eight features the return of Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe as permanent judges and Cat Deeley as host. Also returning is the selection of a Top 20 for the finals, in contrast to season 7's Top 11.

Season eleven again features Lythgoe, and ballroom expert Mary Murphy as the two permanent members of the judge's panel while Cat Deeley continues in her role as host for a tenth consecutive season.

Season fourteen's judge panel once again features series creator Nigel Lythgoe, as well as the return of ballroom expert Mary Murphy, along with new permanent member Vanessa Hudgens joining the panel of judges, while Cat Deeley continues in her role as host for a thirteenth consecutive season.

Season fifteen's judge panel once again features series creator Nigel Lythgoe, as well as the return of ballroom expert Mary Murphy, and Vanessa Hudgens, while Stephen "tWitch" Boss is the new fourth judge during the auditions and the live shows. Cat Deeley continues in her role as host for a fourteenth consecutive season.

The sixteenth season panel of judges again features series creator Nigel Lythgoe, as well as the return of ballroom dance champion and expert Mary Murphy. New to the panel are choreographer Laurieann Gibson and B-boy dancer/choreographer Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval, who serve as the third and fourth judges during auditions and live shows. Cat Deeley continues in her role as host for a fifteenth consecutive season.