Dancing with the Stars 2025: Season 34 Premieres, Celebrates 20th Anniversary with a Star-Stuffed Season

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The highly anticipated dance competition show, Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), officially premiered its 34th season on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

This premiere marks a significant milestone: the 20th anniversary of the popular series.

Fans can watch the excitement live on ABC and Disney+ at 8:00 PM ET/PT.

This season marks the third time DWTS has been simulcast on both networks, providing wider access for viewers.

New episodes will continue to air every Tuesday until the season finale, which is expected to take place around Thanksgiving.

For those who miss it, episodes will also be available for streaming the following day on ABC.com and Hulu.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return to host, while legendary judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli are ready to provide rigorous judging.

The premiere of Dancing with the Stars 2025 on September 16th was a special occasion, celebrating the show's two decades on television.

This 34th season not only continues the tradition of the celebrity dance competition but also solidifies its position as one of the most beloved entertainment programs.

Each episode of DWTS 2025 will air on Tuesdays and the season is designed to culminate around Thanksgiving

The premiere night saw a significant increase in voting participation, doubling the number from the previous season.

The full list of celebrity and professional dancer contestants for Dancing with the Stars 2025 was officially announced on September 3.

One pairing that has caught the eye is Jen Affleck, star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, who is partnered with Jan Ravnik, a newly minted professional dancer who previously danced on Taylor Swift's Eras tour.

Other big names include Hilaria Baldwin (author and health influencer) with Gleb Savchenko, Jordan Chiles (gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnast) with Ezra Sosa, and Baron Davis (former NBA All-Star) with Britt Stewart.

Alix Earle, a social media influencer, is partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy, while Dylan Efron, Zac Efron's younger brother, is dancing with Daniella Karagach.

Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, who was announced as the first contestant, is partnered with Witney Carson.

This season also marks the return of Mark Ballas, the reigning champion of season 31, who is partnered with Whitney Leavitt.

Additionally, new dance troupe members like Hailey Bills, Onye Stevenson, Carter Williams, and Jaxon Willard are joining the stage.

The presence of seasoned professional dancers and rising stars promises intense competition and spectacular dancing on DWTS 2025.

Robert joked that "crocs are my comfort zone, dancing is not" in his intro package before meeting partner Witney Carson. 

As the two began rehearsals, he spoke deeply about the importance of legacy—both about continuing the legacy left by his late father, Steve Irwin, and about creating his own.

Robert and Whitney danced to Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild," and the judges were mesmerized.

Bruno stood up afterward, calling the dance "amazing" and praising the pair for their timing and synchronization.

Derek, who won the mirror ball trophy with Robert's sister, Bindi Irwin, in season 21, said he was "so relieved" because Robert had "a lot of responsibility," jokingly asking if Robert had been "practicing for 10 years."

"Best first dance I've ever seen on this show!" he exclaimed.

Robert said he "did it" for his family in the audience before receiving his score, which tied Whitney and Mark for the top spot of the night.

The couple get score 15/20 for their outstanding performance in the closing.

Robert Irwin’s Dancing with the Stars debut is must-see television. 👏#DWTS #DWTS34 pic.twitter.com/En0M16nkcV

— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) September 17, 2025

The premiere night of Dancing with the Stars 2025 on September 16th featured several unique moments.

One of them was the absence of judge Carrie Ann Inaba due to illness.

Despite this, the show went smoothly, with the remaining two judges, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, judging.

The initial performances of several couples captured the attention.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson delivered an energetic Jive, earning a score of 15 out of 20.

Judge Derek Hough even praised their dance as “probably the best first dance I’ve ever seen on this show.”

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas also earned a score of 15 with their Tango.

While there were some standout performances and several that needed improvement, there were no eliminations on the premiere night of DWTS 2025.

Also, this season will feature a double elimination on the following week’s “One Hit Wonders Night” episode.