With little surprise, "Dancing With the Stars" will once again grace our screens during the 2025-26 television season, marking its triumphant return. Building on the momentum of its impressive run last autumn, ABC has granted this long-standing dance competition a 34th season renewal. The eagerly anticipated line-up for the upcoming season has already welcomed its first star: conservation advocate and television personality, Robert Irwin. The remainder of the celebrity participants and their skilled professional partners will be unveiled closer to the season's premiere.
Since its triumphant return to ABC in 2023, "Dancing With the Stars" has maintained its dual-platform presence, broadcasting live on the network while simultaneously streaming on Disney+, with episodes becoming available on Hulu the subsequent day. Following in the footsteps of his eldest sibling, Bindi, Robert Irwin steps onto the "Dancing With the Stars" stage. Notably, Bindi Irwin and her partner Derek Hough secured victory in the show's 21st season back in 2015.
The 33rd season of "Dancing With the Stars" has just wrapped up on a high note, topping the charts among all network entertainment series among adults aged 18-49 during the fall season. With an average rating of 0.86 a week after airing (excluding streaming figures), the show garnered an audience of 5.86 million viewers, mirroring its 2023 performance. The season finale, which attracted 7.95 million viewers and scored a 1.55 rating in the 18-49 demographic, marked the largest audience for the show in over three years.
As ABC's unscripted powerhouse, "Dancing With the Stars" has secured its place first among equals in earning an official renewal for the 2025-26 season, closely trailed by "The Golden Bachelor" on Tuesday (while "Shark Tank" is currently holding casting calls for its 17th season, formal renewal is pending). Additionally, the network has greenlit most of its scripted series for next season, leaving only the freshman show "Doctor Odyssey" hanging in the balance.
