Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 34

Season thirty-four of Dancing with the Stars premiered on ABC and Disney+ on September 16, 2025, and concluded on December 2, 2025. This season, marking the twentieth anniversary of the series, was the third to air live on both networks simultaneously and the first of ABC's unscripted programs to earn an official renewal for their 2025–26 schedule. Alfonso Ribeiro returned to host the season, while former professional dancer and judge Julianne Hough returned as co-host.

Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and Witney Carson were crowned the champions, while social media personality Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy finished in second place, Olympic artistic gymnast Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa finished third, reality television personality Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach finished fourth, and actress Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten finished fifth. A holiday television special aired following the season finale.

Cast

Couples

On April 22, 2025, during an upfront for Hulu's unscripted programming, Robert Irwin was announced as the first celebrity participant for the thirty-fourth season. He is the younger brother of season twenty-one winner, Bindi Irwin. Alix Earle joined the cast one month later. On June 30, during The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' second season reunion special, host Nick Viall revealed that Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt were joining Dancing with the Stars. Affleck announced the birth of her third child two days later; she was eight weeks postpartum when the season premiered. On August 25, Entertainment Tonight reported that Hilaria Baldwin joined the cast; People confirmed her appearance the following day. Jordon Hudson was originally cast to compete on the season, but she declined due to conflicts of interest. The full roster of celebrity participants and their partnerships was officially revealed on Good Morning America on September 3.

According to Parade, Artem Chigvintsev was not slated to return as a professional dancer this season. Entertainment journalist Kristyn Burtt announced that Mark Ballas, Britt Stewart, Brandon Armstrong, Rylee Arnold, Ezra Sosa, Emma Slater, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Alan Bersten, Witney Carson, Gleb Savchenko, and the reigning champion Jenna Johnson were slated to return. Ballas competed for the first time since winning the thirty-first season with Charli D'Amelio. Before his appearance was confirmed, Savchenko said he was not cast to return to Dancing with the Stars amid cheating allegations from his ex-girlfriend and season thirty-three partner, Brooks Nader. Jan Ravnik, former backup dancer for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, joined the series as a first-time pro. Although Sasha Farber did not return as a pro this season, he was involved in other capacities.

Hosts and judges

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned as hosts for the season. Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges. Inaba missed the season premiere due to an undisclosed illness; there was no replacement judge set in her place. An official Dancing with the Stars podcast, hosted by season thirty-three winner Joey Graziadei, was launched on September 18, 2025. He revealed all of the season's themes during the inaugural episode, and later shared the freestyle songs for the season finale.

Kym Johnson served as the guest judge for Dedication Night. Jon M. Chu served as the guest judge for Wicked Night. Cheryl Burke served as the guest judge for Halloween Night. Flavor Flav served as a guest judge for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night. Tom Bergeron served as the guest judge for the 20th Birthday Party.

Dance troupe

Hailey Bills, Onye Stevenson, Carter Williams, and Jaxon Willard joined the show as first-time troupe members. Bills is the niece of Jenna Johnson and a former pro on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors. Williams was a top six finalist on the seventeenth season of So You Think You Can Dance. Willard was a contestant on the second season of World of Dance.

Scoring chart

The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).

Color key:

Notes

Weekly scores

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1: Premiere

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a "personal anthem" of the celebrity. There was no elimination this week; all scores were carried over to the following week. Carrie Ann Inaba missed this episode due to an undisclosed illness, so the couples were judged on a 20-point scale instead of the usual 30-point scale. The opening number, choreographed by Ray Leeper, was set to "Kill the Lights" by Whitney Myer. The troupe also performed a number to "Just Keep Watching" by Tate McRae.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Notes

Week 2: One-Hit Wonders Night

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song by a one-hit wonder. A double elimination took place this week. The opening number, choreographed by Emma Slater, was set to "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" by C+C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams. The troupe also performed numbers to "I Like to Move It" by Reel 2 Real feat. the Mad Stuntman and "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" by Modjo.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 3: TikTok Night

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song that went viral on the social media platform TikTok. The opening number was set to "Apple" by Charli XCX and featured season 31 champion Charli D'Amelio, with viral moves created by actor and content creator Kelley Heyer. The troupe performed a number to "No Broke Boys" by Disco Lines and Tinashe. They also performed a number with D'Amelio to "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion, choreographed by Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy and Britt Stewart with viral moves created by content creator Keke Janajah. D'Amelio also performed with her season 31 pro partner Mark Ballas to "Assumptions" by Sam Gellaitry.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 4: Disney Night

To celebrate the seventieth anniversary of Disneyland, each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song inspired by a Disney film or attraction. The opening number, choreographed by Mandy Moore, was set to "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast (1991) and featured a guest appearance from Danny Gardner, who stars as Lumière on the North American tour of its accompanying stage musical. The troupe performed numbers to "As Alive as You Need Me to Be" from Tron: Ares (2025) and "The Tiki Tiki Room" from Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 5: Dedication Night

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Bruno Tonioli.

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to honor the most influential figures and institutions in the celebrities' lives. No eliminations took place this week; all scores were carried over to the following week. For the first time on the series, the friends and family members selected by each celebrity contestant joined them on the ballroom floor for their routines. Two-time mirrorball champion Kym Johnson returned as a guest judge. The troupe performed numbers to "Mystical Magical" by Benson Boone and "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean. Additional pro performances were set to "Green Light" by Lorde, choreographed by Jenna Johnson and Britt Stewart featuring a guest appearance from Julianne Hough, and "Back on 74" by Jungle, choreographed by Brandon Armstrong.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 6: Wicked Night

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Jon M. Chu, Bruno Tonioli.

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song from either the musical fantasy film Wicked (2024) or its then-upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good (2025). Jon M. Chu, who directed both films, appeared as a guest judge. The episode featured a never-before-seen clip from Wicked: For Good as well as video messages from its cast, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey and Michelle Yeoh. The opening number, choreographed by Christopher Scott, was set to a medley of songs from both films: "No One Mourns the Wicked", "Defying Gravity", "For Good", "Thank Goodness", "Dancing Through Life", and "What Is This Feeling?". The troupe also performed a number to "Wonderful" from Wicked: For Good.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.