Star-Studded ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34 Finale Reveals New Champion

Another season of “Dancing With the Stars” has sashayed into the history books, and honestly, what a ride. Season 34 has officially wrapped, leaving us with a new Mirrorball champion, a whole lot of glitter, and maybe a few questionable spray tans. After a grueling three-hour finale that felt longer than some celebrity marriages, a winner was finally crowned. But let’s be real, the final vote is just the tip of the iceberg.

The finale was a non-stop whirlwind of sequins and high kicks. The final five couples, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, and Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, were put through the wringer. They had to perform not one, not two, but three separate dances. Yes, you read that right. Three. It was a marathon of redemption dances, freestyles, and a nerve-wracking “Instant Dance Challenge” that had even the pros sweating.

Breaking Down the “Dancing With the Stars” Finale Dances

The “Dancing With the Stars” night kicked off with the Judges’ Choice round, where the couples performed a style chosen for them by one of the judges. It was a chance to show growth, and for the most part, they delivered. Alix Earle and Elaine Hendrix both walked away with perfect scores, setting the bar ridiculously high right out of the gate.

Then came the “Instant Dance Challenge,” a truly chaotic new segment where the couples learned their dance style and music just minutes before hitting the floor. Talk about pressure. It was a test of pure muscle memory and the ability to not have a complete meltdown on live television. And surprisingly? They all kind of crushed it. Dylan Efron, who started the season as a bit of an underdog, pulled off a foxtrot that left the judges speechless, proving he really did belong in the “Dancing With the Stars” finale.

But the real main event of “Dancing With the Stars”, as always, was the freestyle round. This is where the rules go out the window, and anything can happen. And it did. Jordan Chiles brought out Fifth Harmony’s Normani for a performance of “Motivation” that was so electrifying, Carrie Ann Inaba called it “the best freestyle she’d seen in 20 years”. High praise, indeed. Every single couple earned a perfect 30 for their freestyle, which basically made the judges’ scores for the entire night a wash. As usual, it all came down to the viewer’s votes.

Mirrorball Trophy Winners

After all the smoke cleared and the last sequin settled, it was Robert Irwin and Witney Carson who were crowned the champions of “Dancing With the Stars” Season 34!

The win felt like destiny. Robert’s sister, Bindi Irwin, won the trophy a decade ago, and you could feel the emotional weight of the moment. Robert, who battled a painful rib injury throughout the finale, dedicated the win to his late father, Steve Irwin, and thanked America for the life-changing experience. It was a full-circle moment for the Irwin family and a genuinely touching end to a wild season.

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy came in a very close second, followed by Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa in third, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach in fourth, and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten in fifth.

Best Season of “Dancing With the Stars”?

So, was this season a masterpiece? It was certainly something. The show’s producers clearly leaned into the TikTok generation, and it paid off with a huge ratings boost. The casting felt fresher, tapping into a new vein of internet culture that brought a younger audience to the ballroom.

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Conrad Green and Deena Katz even dished on how the “TikTok world has opened something up that I’ve never seen before,” creating a new level of social media engagement. And for those who always wonder how the voting really works, he confirmed it’s a 50/50 split between judges’ scores and public votes. So yes, your votes actually do matter.

In the end, Season 34 gave us everything we tune into “Dancing With the Stars” for: drama, incredible transformations, a few cringe-worthy moments, and a whole lot of heart. Robert Irwin’s win was the perfect, feel-good ending, proving that sometimes, the nice guy really does finish first.