Honestly, if you had told me at the start of the season that a 21-year-old wildlife conservationist would be standing there with tears streaming down his face, clutching the Mirrorball Trophy, I might have believed you—but I wouldn't have predicted just how stressful the journey would get. The DWTS scores tonight (well, the finale scores that just capped off this wild ride) tell a story of a leaderboard so tight you couldn't fit a sequin between the contestants.
Robert Irwin didn't just win; he basically cemented a family dynasty. Ten years after his sister Bindi took home the gold, Robert and his partner Witney Carson pulled off a victory that felt like a scripted Hollywood ending, even though the math was terrifyingly close.
The Finale Leaderboard: A Numbers Game
You've gotta look at these scores to understand why everyone was biting their nails. The finale was a three-round gauntlet: Judges’ Choice, an Instant Dance, and the fan-favorite Freestyle. Usually, one person runs away with it. Not this time.
- Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: They started with a 29/30 for their Quickstep. A tiny slip-up cost them a perfect first round, but they bounced back with a 30/30 Cha Cha and a 30/30 Freestyle. Total: 89.
- Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy: These two were a machine. 30, 30, 30. A perfect 90 across the board.
- Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: Also finished with an 89. Their Paso Doble was a 29, followed by two perfect 30s.
- Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: They put up a valiant 88 total.
- Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: Finished with an 87.
Wait, did you catch that? Alix Earle actually had the higher technical score. She was perfect. But as any long-time viewer knows, the judges' paddles are only half the battle.
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Why the Mirrorball Went to Australia (Sorta)
So, if Alix Earle had a perfect 90 and Robert had an 89, how did he win? It’s the viewer vote. Basically, the "Alix Earle effect" met the "Irwin family legacy," and it was a clash of the titans.
Alfonso Ribeiro dropped a bombshell during the broadcast: tonight's finale broke records. We're talking over 72 million votes cast in a single night. 72 million! The margin between Robert and Alix was the closest the show has ever seen in 34 seasons.
Robert’s freestyle to a mashup of Sam Sparro's "Black & Gold" and Avicii's "The Nights" was pure energy. It didn't matter that he was nursing a rib injury that had Witney Carson modifying choreography just 24 hours prior. When the lights hit, he looked like a "warrior on the ballroom floor," which is exactly what his mom, Terri Irwin, called him during a pre-recorded package.
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The Surprises Most People Missed
Jordan Chiles, our Olympic legend, was technically brilliant but found herself in third. It’s kinda wild to think a gold medalist can't win a dance competition, but the "disconnected" comment from Carrie Ann Inaba early in the night might have signaled that the judges were looking for more than just athleticism.
Then there's Elaine Hendrix. At 54, she was the "sophisticated" soul of the season. She didn't just show up; she pushed through a rib injury from "Wicked Night" that actually sent her to the hospital earlier in the season. Seeing her hit a perfect 30 in the freestyle was one of those "I'm not crying, you're crying" moments.
What This Means for Season 35
Technically, ABC hasn't officially greenlit Season 35 yet. But let's be real. With 500 million votes cast over the course of the season and a resurgence in popularity thanks to the TikTok crowd (thanks, Alix), the show isn't going anywhere.
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The "Instant Dance" round—where couples have to perform a routine to music they find out on the spot—was a massive hit this year. It proved that these celebrities actually have to learn the craft, not just memorize steps. Expect that to become a permanent fixture.
Final Standings Recap
- Winners: Robert Irwin & Witney Carson
- Runners-up: Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy
- Third Place: Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa
- Fourth Place: Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach
- Fifth Place: Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten
If you're already missing the ballroom, the DWTS Live 2026 Tour is kicking off soon. You'll likely see most of these finalists there, assuming Robert’s ribs have healed up by then.
To keep up with the post-season drama, follow the pros on TikTok—Witney and Daniella have been dropping behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage that shows just how close those "perfect" scores actually were to falling apart. Double-check the official ABC site for tour dates in your city if you want to see the Mirrorball winner in person.