The Dancing with the Stars cast battles tonight for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy on November 25, 2025, with five celebrities competing in the season 34 finale. Robert Irwin, Alix Earle, Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles, and Elaine Hendrix are vying for the championship title in a three-hour finale episode airing from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on ABC. The competition marks a historic moment for the show with new format changes featuring judges’ choice, instant dance, and freestyle routines.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Robert Irwin entered as the frontrunner with consistent high scores and a perfect 40/40 in week 8 for his Steve Irwin tribute.
- The finale features a historic format with three new dances per couple: judges’ choice, instant dance challenge, and freestyle.
- Alix Earle is Irwin’s strongest competition, with major social media momentum and strong viewer support.
- First-time format change allows judges to select specific dances and adds instant dance challenge for added competitive drama.
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The Australian conservationist faced last-minute challenges heading into the finale. Witney Carson, his professional partner, revealed that Robert Irwin suffered a rib injury just hours before the finale broadcast. Despite the injury, Irwin prepared to compete for the trophy with his quickstep and other choreographed routines.
Irwin has been the frontrunner throughout season 34. His family, including his sister Bindi Irwin (who won the Mirrorball Trophy in 2015 with Derek Hough), showed strong support heading into the finale. The injury’s impact on his final performances remained a major storyline of the evening.
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The season 34 finale introduced a groundbreaking format for the first time in show history. Each couple performed three separate new dances rather than the traditional format, creating heightened competition and drama. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson performed a quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet in their judges’ choice round.
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy earned a perfect 30/30 in their judges’ choice performance. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten completed the judges’ choice segment. The instant dance challenge and freestyle rounds followed, with each couple bringing new energy to the ballroom.
Freestyle Performances Showcase Final Moments
| Celebrity & Professional Partner | Freestyle Song/Performance |
| Robert Irwin & Witney Carson | Quickstep and freestyle performances |
| Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy | Freestyle to “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado & “Sports Car” by Tate McRae |
| Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach | Freestyle performance in finale round |
| Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa | Freestyle to “Motivation” by Normani |
| Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten | Freestyle performance in finale competition |
The freestyle rounds represent the most creative expressions for each couple. Alix Earle’s freestyle performance became a fan favorite, showcasing the social media personality’s growth throughout the season. Jordan Chiles, the Olympic artistic gymnast, proved her dancing ability alongside her athletic background.
Celebrity Reactions and Eliminated Cast Members Return for Grand Finale
All eliminated contestants from season 34 returned for the finale celebration. Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt, Hilaria Baldwin, Baron Davis, Corey Feldman, Danielle Fishel, Scott Hoying, and Lauren Jauregui came back to support the finalists and celebrate the show’s successful season. Season 33 champions Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson returned for a special performance.
The November 25, 2025 finale marked the conclusion of a record-breaking season for Dancing with the Stars. Social media engagement, particularly on TikTok, boosted viewership to new heights. The show’s viral success created an entirely new audience following the competition weekly.
What Does the Future Hold for Dancing with the Stars Winners?
The winner of season 34 joins an elite group of Mirrorball Trophy champions. Bindi Irwin’s 2015 victory with Derek Hough set a family legacy that Robert Irwin could continue. Past winners from recent seasons have leveraged their Dancing with the Stars success into expanded entertainment careers and social media following.
The voting system combines judges’ scores and public viewer votes equally (50/50), according to show executive producer Conrad Green. The couple with the lowest combined total of both factors is eliminated. Live voting takes place during the East Coast airing and closes after final performances complete. The final results will determine who claims the championship trophy tonight.
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.