ABC has announced the return date of Lost for the show’s sixth season. The final round of episodes will kick off on Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

On that night, the network will start by airing a one-hour recap special at 8pm and then follow it with the two-hour premiere titled “LA X.” The following week, Lost will air in its regular time slot at 9pm.

The regular cast for season six is Naveen Andrews (Sayid), Nestor Carbonell (Richard Alpert), Emilie de Ravin (Claire), Michael Emerson (Ben), Jeff Fahey (Frank Lapidus), Matthew Fox (Jack), Jorge Garcia (Hurley), Josh Holloway (Sawyer), Daniel Dae Kim (Jin), Yunjin Kim (Sun), Ken Leong (Miles), Evangeline Lilly (Kate), and Terry O’Quinn (Locke).

Ziuleikha Robinson is also a series regular though her name may not be as familiar as the rest. She plays “Ilana,” the strong-willed young woman who was on the plane that brought members of the “Oceanic Six” back to the island. It’s been previously confirmed that several castmembers from the past will be back as well, though not as regulars.

Aside from a lot of storyline questions, the network announcement brings some scheduling mysteries as well. ABC has typically aired the Dancing with the Stars results show at 9pm on Tuesdays. This likely means that Dancing will shift to 8pm when it returns in March, helping Lost with a strong lead-in. The action drama is going to need it since it’ll be going head-to-head with American Idol and new hit NCIS: Los Angeles.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to the new season? Which will you watch live? Lost, NCIS: Los Angeles, or American Idol?

Image courtesy ABC.