This season of Dancing With The Stars may have ended, but we’re still thinking about the season’s epic three-hour finale! Here is everything you may have missed during the season 34 finale on Tuesday, November 25th.
This season’s finale featured five couples competing for the chance to win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. To change things up this year, for the first time in DWTS history, each couple danced three final dances – a judge’s choice dance, an instant dance round, and a freestyle routine.
Social media influencer Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy opened up the finale with their Samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club des Belugas. Carrie Ann Inaba was the judge to work with the couple in rehearsals and she shared that she wanted them to do a Samba because it’s “sensual and celebratory.” Inaba’s biggest focus for Earle was sharpening her arms. Earle clearly succeeded because she earned herself a perfect score.
Reality TV star Dylan Efron and his partner Daniella Karagach had the next dance with a Paso Doble to “Stampede” by Alexander Jean featuring Lindsey Stirling. Bruno Tonioli worked with the couple and explained he chose a Paso Doble because he wants Efron to “come out of his shell.” Tonioli added he wanted to “see total domination of the arena.” Tonioli got his wish and after the dance complimented Efron saying, “Actually I’m speechless.” Both Inaba and Derek Hough complemented the routine but explained there were some shaping issues. The routine earned Efron a 28 out of 30.
Actress Elaine Hendrix and her partner Alan Bersten had the next dance, a Rumba to “Take My Breath Away” by Jae Hall. Hough chose this dance for the couple because he wanted them to make this “slow dance” something “exciting.” The couple did just that and the judges noticed. Hough praised Hendrix’s arms and turns and Inaba commented that she had been waiting for her “to do a dance like that.” The couple earned themselves a perfect score.
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson had the next dance with a Quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. Hough chose this dance because he wanted Irwin to “show us a beautiful, wide frame.” In the days leading up to the finale, Irwin began dealing with rib pain which put him in great discomfort when rehearsing his three dances for the finale. Irwin powered through for his Quickstep and earned himself a 29 out of 30.
Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles had the final dance of the first round with her partner Ezra Sosa. The couple danced a Paso Doble to “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna. Inaba chose this style for Chiles because she is “fierce.” Chiles definitely brought the fierceness to the dance floor, so much so that Inaba then told her it was “too strong” in the beginning. Chiles earned a 29 out of 30.
It was then time for one of DWTS’ most interesting challenges – the instant dance round. This challenge involved each couple finding out what dance style and song they would be dancing to live on air. Each couple then had five minutes to prepare before they danced their routine live.
Earle and Chmerkovskiy were up first and ended up getting a Cha-Cha set to “Where Is My Husband?” by Raye. With only having five minutes to prepare, the star wowed the judges with her dance and earned herself a perfect score.
Efron and Karagach had the next instant dance and ended up getting a Foxtrot to “Ordinary” by Alex Warren. Efron hasn’t been one of the strongest dancers this season, but he has definitely shown great improvement and that was very clear with his instant Foxtrot. Each of the judges shared their astonishment with the dance and gave Efron a perfect score.
Hendrix and Bersten had the next dance, an instant Quickstep to “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes. Hendrix shared in her pre-recorded package that she was worried about this challenge, and although she did have a few missteps, she still earned herself a 27 out of 30.
Irwin and Carson had the next instant dance with a Cha-Cha to “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE. The dance definitely had some mishaps and wasn’t as clean as the other instant dances, but it seems the judges didn’t notice this and gave the couple a perfect score.
Chiles and Sosa had the final instant dance with a Tango to “I Like It” by Alesso, Nate Smith, and Sentinel. Chiles clearly didn’t let the stress of having to improvise an instant dance get to her because she killed it and the judges thought she did too. The couple earned a perfect score.
It was then time for the most exciting round of competition all season – the freestyle routines!
Earle and Chmerkovskiy were up first with a routine to “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado and “Sports car” by Tate McRae. In her pre-recorded package, Earle shared that DWTS unlocked a new side of her and how she wanted to showcase that during her freestyle by “going out with a bang.” The judges definitely saw Earle’s “expressive and dominant self” during the routine and gave the star a perfect score.
Efron and Karagach had the next freestyle and danced to “Something In The Heavens” by Lewis Capaldi. After the couple’s graceful final dance, Tonioli called it “beautiful, poetic” and Hough shared that he was speechless. The couple earned a perfect score.
Hendrix and Bersten took a new approach for their freestyle to “I Hope I Get It (from A Chorus Line)” by District 78. The couple’s freestyle had a Broadway-like feel, beginning with Hendrix waiting to “audition” and ending with her being the lead star. The routine even featured some special guests like her best friend Lisa Ann Walter, Andy Richter, and Brandon Armstrong. The couple earned a perfect score.
Irwin and Carson had the next freestyle and danced to “Black & Gold” by Sam Sparro and “The Nights” by Avicii. Irwin shared in his final pre-recorded package how much DWTS and being partnered with Carson has meant to him and how he wants to make his dad proud with his final dance. After the dance, the judges complimented the performance, Hough sharing, “You are a dancer. You are a phenomenal human being.” The couple earned a perfect score.
Chiles and Sosa then had the final dance of the season and danced to “Bow Down (Homecoming Live)” by Beyoncé and “Motivation” by Normani. Arguably the best freestyle of the night, the routine was filled with flips, tricks, and even a surprise appearance from Normani herself! The judges loved the routine, Inaba calling it “the best Freestyle I’ve seen in 20 seasons, hands down.” The couple earned a perfect score.
It was then time for the moment we’ve all been waiting for – the unveiling of the DWTS season 34 champions!
Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough first announced that 72 million votes were cast during the finale – the most votes in DWTS history – and that over a half a billion votes were cast this season in total. Ribeiro and Julianne Hough then announced that Hendrix and Bersten landed in fifth place, Efron and Karagach landed in fourth place, and that Chiles and Sosa landed in third place.
Irwin and Carson and Earle and Chmerkovskiy then came forward to find out who would be the next mirrorball champions, the winners being the couple to earn the most votes in DWTS history.
It was then revealed that Irwin and Carson were the DWTS season 34 winners and would take home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy!
The competition may be over, but the “Dancing With The Stars 2026 Tour” just began! This year at select dates, the tour will feature Irwin, Earle, Chiles, Efron, Hendrix, Richter, and Danielle Fishel.
And just like that, another DWTS season is over! I have had the best time writing all of these DWTS recaps these past four seasons. Thank you for reading!