Dancing with the Stars renewed for Season 34, Robert Irwin joins cast
Dancing with the Stars has been officially renewed for Season 34. The long-running ballroom competition will air on ABC and on Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu. Produced in front of a live audience, the show pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers to compete in themed, choreographed routines judged by a panel of industry experts.
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin has been announced as the first celebrity cast member for the upcoming season. Robert follows in the footsteps of his sister, Bindi Irwin, who won the Mirrorball Trophy during Season 21 alongside her partner, Derek Hough. Producers will reveal the full lineup of celebrity contestants and professional dance partners at a later date.
Robert shared the news about the DWTS renewal and his casting on Tuesday, April 23, at Disney Entertainment Television’s Get Real Event. He addressed the audience in his signature confident and playful manner — appearing shirtless with a snake draped around his shoulders — and recalled how watching his sister compete inspired him.
“I cannot tell you what a privilege, what an honor it is to be joining this season,” he said at the event, adding that he once told himself, “One day, that’s gonna be me.” Now that the opportunity has arrived, he said he is “over the moon” and ready to take on the challenge.
Dancing with the Stars blends theatrical performance and athleticism; celebrities train with professional dancers to master ballroom, Latin, contemporary and themed routines. Contestants are evaluated by judges and by viewer votes, creating an unpredictable mix of technical scoring and audience engagement that often fuels dramatic eliminations and surprise comebacks.
Dancing with the Stars ratings rise
Season 33 delivered a notable ratings boost for the franchise. It ranked No. 1 among Adults 18-49 in Live+Same Day viewing, marking the first time the series achieved that position for the broadcast season in its history. The season also attracted younger viewers, delivering the show’s best Adults 18-34 ratings in four years. Overall viewership peaked as the season concluded, with the highest total audience (7.95 million) and the strongest Adults 18-49 rating (1.55) in more than three years.
Voting engagement surged as well. Throughout Season 33, the competition set multiple voting records, and the finale generated more than 32 million votes across the competing teams. These results highlight both the program’s enduring popularity and its ability to attract younger, highly valued demographics.
For Season 34, the pairing of celebrity participants and professional ballroom dancers will be pivotal. As fans know, casting choices and pairings often shape the narrative arc of the season, influencing fan support, judges’ scoring patterns and ultimately the outcome. Robert Irwin’s participation adds a new element to the mix: a celebrity with a strong public profile rooted in wildlife conservation, family legacy and reality television experience.
Robert’s involvement also underscores the show’s appeal to a broad audience. Viewers who followed the Irwin family’s television presence and conservation work may be drawn to the series, while longtime DWTS fans will be curious to see how his athleticism and charisma translate to the ballroom.
Producers have promised more casting announcements and production details in the coming weeks. As Season 34 approaches, expectations are high that the series will continue to innovate its routines, expand its fanbase across broadcast and streaming platforms, and build on the momentum achieved in the previous season.
Stay tuned for the official cast reveal, premiere date, and schedule for Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, where celebrities compete for the Mirrorball Trophy in a showcase of dance, storytelling and live entertainment.