A New Season of Stars Prepares to Waltz into the Ballroom
The ballroom is set, the mirrorball is polished, and a new roster of celebrities is ready to compete for dancing glory. The highly anticipated full cast for Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars was officially unveiled on Good Morning America on September 3, 2025, confirming a diverse lineup of personalities from the worlds of sports, reality television, and social media. The landmark season, which marks the show’s twentieth anniversary, is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, airing live on ABC and streaming simultaneously on Disney+.
The Celebrity Contestants for Season 34
Months of speculation and early announcements have culminated in a complete cast list that promises a competitive and entertaining season. The celebrities strapping on their dancing shoes include:
- Robert Irwin: The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist and son of the legendary Steve Irwin was the first star confirmed for the season. He follows in the footsteps of his older sister, Bindi Irwin, who won the mirrorball trophy in 2015.
- Alix Earle: A 24-year-old social media influencer and host of the Hot Mess podcast, Earle was the second celebrity to be announced.
- Jordan Chiles: An Olympic artistic gymnast, Chiles brings a background of elite athleticism and discipline to the competition.
- Hilaria Baldwin: The yoga instructor, podcaster, and entrepreneur is set to join the cast, bringing her own unique brand of star power to the dance floor.
- Jen Affleck & Whitney Leavitt: Stars of the reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will be competing. Affleck’s participation is particularly noteworthy, as she will be just eleven weeks postpartum when the season premieres.
While this list is confirmed, rumors continue to swirl about other potential contestants, including reality star Dylan Efron and Scott Hoying of the a cappella group Pentatonix, as reported by digitaltrendstoday.com.
Familiar Faces and New Talent Among the Pros
A new season also brings a dynamic mix of professional dancers. Fans will be thrilled to see the return of two-time champion Mark Ballas, who will compete for the first time since winning Season 31. He joins a stellar lineup of returning pros, including reigning champion Jenna Johnson, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Daniella Karagach, Brandon Armstrong, Rylee Arnold, Emma Slater, Gleb Savchenko, Britt Stewart, Alan Bersten, Pasha Pashkov, Witney Carson, and Ezra Sosa. However, Artem Chigvintsev is reportedly not slated to return for this season.
The professional roster also features an exciting new addition: Jan Ravnik. Ravnik is widely known for his work as a backup dancer on Taylor Swift’s record-breaking “Eras Tour,” and his transition to the DWTS ballroom is highly anticipated.
Hosts and Judges Return
Guiding the contestants and viewers through the season will be the returning host duo of Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. Their chemistry and experience, both as a former champion and a former pro/judge respectively, provide a steady hand for the live competition. The judging panel also remains consistent, with veterans Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli joined by six-time mirrorball champion Derek Hough. Their combined expertise will be crucial in scoring the performances and guiding the new cast.
With the full cast and professional lineup now public, the countdown to the Season 34 premiere has officially begun. The new season follows the victory of former The Bachelor star Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson, who took home the renamed Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in Season 33.
