Dancing with the Stars: Five Couples Battle for the Mirro...

Dancing with the Stars season 34 is coming to a glittering close as the final five couples return to the ballroom for one last chance at the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. The finale promises high drama, star-studded performances, and a celebration of the season’s standout talent.

What to Know:

Finalists will perform three routines: a judges’ choice, an instant dance, and a freestyle.
Opening number choreographed by Joey Pizzi to “Never Can Say Goodbye” by the Communards.
All season 34 couples return for group performances, including numbers set to Tyler, The Creator’s “Sugar On My Tongue,” Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” and Alexander Jean’s “I Don’t Dance.”
Season 33 champions Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson will perform to “Tanguera” by Fabio Hager Sexteto.
Each of the remaining five couples will dance two numbers: one according to the judges' choices and another as a freestyle.
Robert Irwin, the frontrunner to win this season of the competition show, has injured his rib just ahead of the finale.
The finale airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET, simulcast live on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.

Stay with Newsweek for live updates on this highly anticipated finale.

Nov 25, 2025 at 07:12 PM EST

Robert Irwin faces ‘DWTS’ finale with injury concerns

As Dancing With the Stars season 34 heads into its finale, fan favorite Robert Irwin is battling through physical pain. His partner, pro Witney Carson, revealed in a TikTok video posted Nov. 24 that the 21-year-old conservationist has been struggling with rib discomfort after 11 weeks of intense rehearsals and performances.

Carson, 32, said both she and Irwin are “falling apart” physically but are determined to push through the final days of competition. She noted that viewers will learn more about the situation during the Nov. 25 broadcast.

The duo has been rehearsing late into the night, preparing for their freestyle and final routines. Carson described the season as “bittersweet,” sharing that while she is ready to return home to her family, the experience with Irwin has been “the biggest gift.”

Irwin, son of the late Steve Irwin, is one of five finalists competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. He joins Alix Earle with Val Chmerkovskiy, Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa, Dylan Efron with Daniella Karagach, and Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten in the three-hour finale.

If Irwin wins, he would follow in the footsteps of his sister Bindi, who captured the trophy in 2015. He has said her advice was to make the journey his own, without rivalry.

Nov 25, 2025 at 06:59 PM EST

Who won season 33 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’?

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Dancing With the Stars closed out its 33rd season last November with Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson lifting the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. The pair secured the win after scores from the semifinals were combined with live viewer votes and finale performances, marking another record-breaking night for fan participation.

The finale featured a mix of competition and spectacle. Instead of the usual opening number, the broadcast began with taped segments of judges reflecting on the finalists’ journeys before the cast returned to dance to Madonna’s “Holiday.” The night also leaned into headline-making storylines, including Anna Delvey’s appearance during her routine to Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and a reunion-themed performance by Gleb Savchenko and Brooks Nader.

Past champions and pros also took the floor, with Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy performing to Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and Mark Ballas joining Derek Hough for a tango tribute. The DWTS Live 2025 Tour dancers added to the spectacle with a routine to Troye Sivan’s “Rush.”

Competition highlights included Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold earning praise for a heartfelt freestyle, Danny Amendola and Witney Carson’s playful Ken-and-Barbie routine, Ilona Maher’s empowering performance with Alan Bersten, and Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong’s tribute to pioneering Black performers.

Graziadei and Johnson sealed their victory with a perfect redemption Cha Cha, cementing their place in DWTS history as season 33 champions.

Nov 25, 2025 at 06:54 PM EST

When is Season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’?

Dancing With the Stars has not yet been officially renewed for season 35, but the show’s resurgence on social media, particularly TikTok, makes another installment all but certain.

If ABC sticks to its current schedule, season 35 is expected to premiere in mid-September 2026, airing live Tuesday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. ET. Episodes will continue to simulcast on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are likely to return as cohosts, while judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli are expected to remain on the panel. As for the professional dancers, familiar names such as Val Chmerkovskiy, Jenna Johnson, Alan Bersten, Britt Stewart, Witney Carson and Ezra Sosa are strong candidates to return, alongside others like Brandon Armstrong and Rylee Arnold. Veteran pro Louis van Amstel has also expressed interest in rejoining the cast.

Casting for celebrities won’t be announced until closer to the premiere, though last season’s first reveal came in April. Fan voting will once again play a key role, with viewers able to cast ballots online and via text during the live broadcast.

The long-running competition, which debuted in 2005, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and shows no signs of slowing down.

Nov 25, 2025 at 06:49 PM EST

How to vote for your favorite couples on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Fans can help decide the winner of Dancing With the Stars season 34 by casting votes during the live simulcast each Tuesday on ABC and Disney+. Voting opens at 8/7c and closes shortly after the final competitive dance of the night.

Viewers have two options:

Online voting: Visit dwtsvote.abc.com and log in or create an account. Each account must be verified once by email before votes can be submitted. Fans can allocate up to 10 votes per couple per episode and adjust selections throughout the voting window.
SMS voting: Text the assigned keyword for each couple to 21523. Each text counts as one vote, with a maximum of 10 votes per couple per episode. SMS voting is only available to viewers in the U.S. and its territories with participating carriers.

Each eligible household member can cast up to 20 votes per couple per week (10 online and 10 via SMS). Online voting is open to fans in the U.S., its territories, and Canada, while SMS voting is restricted to the U.S.

Nov 25, 2025 at 06:45 PM EST

How to watch ‘Dancing With the Stars’

The season 34 finale of Dancing With the Stars will air live tonight at 8 p.m. EST on ABC and Disney+. Viewers who miss the broadcast can stream the episode the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Disney+ offers multiple subscription tiers, including a basic plan with ads at $11.99 per month and a premium ad-free option at $18.99 per month or $189.99 annually.

Hulu also provides two plans: an ad-supported version for $11.99 per month or $119.99 annually, and an ad-free plan for $18.99 per month.

For those seeking both platforms, a bundle package combining Hulu and Disney+ starts at $12.99 per month.

Nov 25, 2025 at 06:37 PM EST

Who is favored to win Season 34 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’?

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Robert Irwin is the frontrunner to capture the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy as Dancing With the Stars season 34 heads into its finale. According to Gold Derby’s latest fan prediction tallies, the 21-year-old wildlife conservationist holds more than a 90 percent chance of victory.

A win would mark a historic milestone for the Irwin family. His sister, Bindi, claimed the trophy in season 21 back in 2015 alongside Derek Hough, making them the first siblings to both secure the show’s top prize.

Irwin’s pro partner Witney Carson is also chasing history. She previously won with Alfonso Ribeiro in season 19 and has logged five other top-three finishes. Only a handful of pros have earned multiple Mirrorballs, with Hough leading the all-time list at six.

While Irwin is the heavy favorite, the rest of the leaderboard is less certain. Odds place Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy in second, gymnast Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa in third, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach in fourth, and Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten rounding out the finalists.

Nov 25, 2025 at 06:33 PM EST

Who is left on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34?

The five finalists left on Dancing With the Stars Season 34 are Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Dylan Efron, Elaine Hendrix, and Jordan Chiles.

Breakdown of Remaining Contestants

Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy
- Social media personality paired with Val.
- Judges’ choice: Samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin”
- Freestyle: “Maneater” / “Sports Car”
Robert Irwin & Witney Carson
- Wildlife conservationist paired with Witney.
- Judges’ choice: Quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?”
- Freestyle: “Black & Gold” / “The Nights”
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach
- Reality star/content creator paired with Daniella.
- Judges’ choice: Paso doble to “Stampede”
- Freestyle: “Something in the Heavens”
Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten
- Actress paired with Alan.
- Judges’ choice: Rumba to “Take My Breath Away”
- Freestyle: “I Hope I Get It”
Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa
- Olympic gymnast paired with Ezra.
- Judges’ choice: Paso doble to “Breakin’ Dishes”
- Freestyle: "Motivation"