If you haven’t been keeping up with the sequins and the spray tans this year, you’ve missed a wild ride. The 2025 season of Dancing with the Stars (that’s Season 34, for those counting) just wrapped up its massive 20th-anniversary run, and the leaderboard was basically a rollercoaster until the very last second. Honestly, seeing who is left on Dancing with the Stars 2025 at the finish line was a bit of a shock to some, mostly because the fan favorites and the judges' picks weren't always the same people.
We started with 14 celebrities back in September. By the time the finale rolled around on November 25, 2025, only five couples were still standing in that ballroom. It wasn't just about the footwork this time; the 20th-anniversary energy brought back legends and set a bar so high that even the pros were sweating.
The Final Five: Who is Left on Dancing with the Stars 2025?
By the time the finale kicked off, the competition was down to a diverse group of athletes, influencers, and actors. Most people were betting on the athletes, but the "TikTok" generation and some nostalgic favorites held their ground.
Robert Irwin & Witney Carson
Robert basically won over America’s heart from night one. He’s charming, he’s got that Irwin energy, and Witney Carson—who came back with a vengeance this season—pushed him to do things nobody thought a wildlife conservationist could do. They were consistently at the top, but they actually had a few stumbles in the later weeks that made people wonder if they’d slip.
Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy
If you’re on social media, you couldn't escape Alix Earle. She was the dark horse. Initially, critics thought she was just there for the "Gen Z" votes, but she actually turned out to be a powerhouse. Val Chmerkovskiy leaned into her competitive side, and by the semi-finals, she was matching the pros in technicality.
Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa
Coming off a massive Olympic run, Jordan was the one to beat in terms of raw athleticism. Ezra Sosa finally got a partner who could pull off those high-flying stunts, and their routines were consistently the most explosive.
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Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach
Dylan (yes, Zac’s brother) was the surprise of the season. He came in as a reality star from The Traitors, but Daniella Karagach did what she does best: she turned a "non-dancer" into a legitimate threat.
Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten
Elaine was the nostalgia pick for everyone who grew up watching The Parent Trap. She had a professional dance background from decades ago, and while an injury early in life had sidelined that career, she showed up in 2025 to prove she still had it.
The Final Results and the Mirrorball Winner
The finale was a three-hour marathon. It wasn't just one dance; they had to do a Judges' Choice, an Instant Dance, and the legendary Freestyle. The scores were incredibly tight. Alix and Val actually pulled a perfect 90/30/30/30 for their final night, but the judges' scores are only half the battle.
Ultimately, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson were crowned the winners. Robert took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, following in the footsteps of his sister, Bindi Irwin. It was an emotional night, especially with the 20th-anniversary tributes.
Here is how the final standings shook out:
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- 1st Place: Robert Irwin & Witney Carson (Winners)
- 2nd Place: Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy
- 3rd Place: Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa
- 4th Place: Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach
- 5th Place: Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten
The Path of Destruction: Who Got Eliminated?
You can’t talk about who is left without looking at who got the boot. Some of these eliminations actually caused minor riots on Twitter (or "X," whatever we're calling it this week).
The most controversial departure was definitely Whitney Leavitt. She’s one of the stars of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and she was paired with Mark Ballas, who came out of retirement just for this season. They were scoring near the top of the leaderboard every single week. When they were sent home during the Semi-Finals (Prince Night), the room went silent. It was a classic "vote for your favorites" scenario where the best dancers don't always survive.
Before that, we lost Andy Richter in Week 9. He was the oldest contestant and definitely the "fun" one, but the technical gap between him and people like Jordan Chiles was just too wide. He joked about only being there for the paycheck, but you could tell he actually cared by the end.
Danielle Fishel (Topanga herself!) went home on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night. She had just beaten breast cancer and was using the show as her "year of yes," which made her exit pretty tear-jerking.
Then you had the earlier exits:
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- Jen Affleck (Week 7) - Another Mormon Wives star. She struggled with the "Dance Monster-thon" and couldn't recover.
- Scott Hoying (Week 6) - The Pentatonix singer was great, but "Wicked Night" was brutal for him.
- Hilaria Baldwin (Week 4) - She didn't have the viewer votes to stay in the middle of the pack.
- Lauren Jauregui (Week 3) - This was a shocker. A Fifth Harmony singer going home that early? People were baffled.
- Baron Davis & Corey Feldman (Week 2) - The first double elimination of the season took out the NBA star and the 80s icon.
Why Robert Irwin Actually Won
It’s easy to say he won because he’s an Irwin. And yeah, that helps. But if you look at the stats, Robert wasn't actually the highest scorer. Jordan Chiles and Alix Earle often outranked him in pure points.
Robert won because he stayed "safe" in the eyes of the judges while being "magnetic" for the audience. He did a Jive to "Born to be Wild" in the first week that Derek Hough called the best debut dance he’d ever seen. That kind of momentum is hard to stop. Plus, having Witney Carson as a partner is basically like having a cheat code; she knows how to choreograph for the "relatable guy" better than anyone else in the pro lineup.
Looking Toward Season 35
While ABC hasn't officially put out a press release with a date for Season 35, the ratings for the 20th anniversary were huge. They’ve already renewed most of their unscripted slate for the 2025–2026 cycle. We can probably expect a late September 2026 premiere.
The rumor mill is already spinning about who might join next. People are eyeing more athletes from the upcoming sports cycles and potentially more reality stars from the Hulu/Disney ecosystem.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for next season, make sure you're following the pros on Instagram. That’s usually where the first "leaks" happen—long before the official Good Morning America reveal. You can also rewatch the Season 34 finale on Disney+ if you want to see that Robert Irwin freestyle one more time; it’s worth it just for the energy.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Highlight Reels: If you missed the finale, go to the official Dancing with the Stars YouTube channel to see the three-way tie in scores between the top finalists.
- Follow the Winners: Robert Irwin and Witney Carson have already teased a "post-win" project together, so keep an eye on their socials for a possible tour announcement.
- Check Streaming Dates: Remember that Season 34 episodes remain on Disney+ for a limited time, so catch up on the themed nights (especially "Wicked Night") before they move to the archives.