Who won Dancing with the Stars 2025? Robert Irwin lifts the Len Goodman Mirrorball with pro partner Witney Carson

The Dancing with the Stars season 34 finale delivered a full-throttle, three-round showdown—and a family full-circle moment—as Robert Irwin and Witney Carson claimed the 2025 Mirrorball Trophy on Tuesday, November 25. Ten years after his sister Bindi’s triumph, Robert capped a season of steady ascent with a resilient finale performance despite battling a rib issue in the run-up to showtime.

DWTS finale 2025: results at a glance

• Champion: Robert Irwin & Witney Carson

• Runner-up: Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy

• Third place: Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa

• Also in the finale: Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach; Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten

The live results came after judges’ scores were combined with audience votes, closing out one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

How Robert Irwin and Witney Carson won Dancing with the Stars

The pair aced a three-part finale built for momentum and versatility:

• Judges’ Choice/Redemption: A crisp Quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” showcasing improved frame, drive and musicality.

• Instant Dance: A rapid-prep Cha Cha that demanded on-the-spot timing and clean leg action under pressure.

• Freestyle: A rule-free, high-impact medley set to “Black & Gold” and “The Nights,” blending athletic lifts with story beats that nodded to Irwin’s journey.

Behind the scenes, choreography was tweaked to protect a sore rib, forcing the duo to lean on speed, clarity and connection rather than big-risk tricks. The adjustments paid off: their routines read confident and controlled, with crowd energy peaking during the freestyle.

Where the finalists stood out

Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy (2nd): The social-media star completed a season-long technical glow-up, delivering sharper footwork and cleaner turns than early episodes suggested. Their finale arc hinged on consistency and showmanship; a near-miss runner-up underscores how tight the margins were.

Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa (3rd): Explosive power from the Olympic gymnast translated into commanding shapes and lift mechanics. The finale showcased upgraded performance quality—less “gym” and more “character”—a leap that kept them in the title hunt to the end.

Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach; Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: Both couples arrived with distinct lanes: Dylan leaning athletic and contemporary-inflected, Elaine mining character and line. Each delivered hallmark moments across the season and contributed to a finals night with no soft spots.

Why this DWTS win hit different

• Legacy thread: A decade after Bindi’s title, Robert’s victory extends a unique sibling storyline for the franchise, turning the Mirrorball into a multigenerational milestone for the Irwin family.

• Adapt-or-lose finals: Instant Dance compressed rehearsal into minutes, rewarding couples who could process notes and flip choreography on live TV—Irwin/Carson thrived under that constraint.

• Freestyle strategy shift: With the rib limitation, the champions emphasized clean lines, sustained energy, and storytelling over risky acrobatics, reminding viewers that finale freestyles don’t need the biggest flips to land the biggest impact.

DWTS season 34 by the numbers and notes

• Finale date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

• Format: Three rounds — Judges’ Choice, Instant Dance, Freestyle

• Trophy: Len Goodman Mirrorball

• Run time: Approximately three hours live (results at the end of the broadcast window)

• Fan engagement: A surge of live voting in the final hour underscored how narrow the race became after round two.

What’s next after the DWTS finale 2025

Expect the champions to make the traditional morning-after media circuit and for the full finalist lineup to feature prominently in the franchise’s live tour slate. Off the ballroom floor, Robert Irwin’s visibility boost could further amplify his conservation work, while Witney Carson adds another marquee title to an already decorated pro résumé.

who won DWTS 2025

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson are your Dancing with the Stars season 34 champions, edging a loaded finals field with precise technique, smart choreography choices, and a freestyle that balanced emotion with momentum. For fans asking “who won DWTS last night?”—the Mirrorball is heading to the Irwin family once again.