Dancing with the Stars Season 34 reaches its final stage tonight as five celebrity and professional dance pairs return to the ballroom for one last push toward the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. The finale marks the end of a historic season that celebrated twenty years of the franchise and delivered some of the highest audience engagement in recent years.
The finalists, representing a mix of athletes, entertainers and influencers, will each perform three routines designed to test range, rhythm and stage presence. The night includes a judges’ choice dance, an instant routine set to surprise music, and a freestyle performance that traditionally determines the momentum of the closing minutes.
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, one of the season’s breakout pairings, will bring a samba selected by judge Carrie Ann Inaba before closing with a high energy freestyle medley. Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles will step into the finale with a paso doble chosen by Inaba, while wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin will take on a quickstep selected by judge Derek Hough.
Reality star Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach will perform a paso doble set to Alexander Jean’s music, while actress Elaine Hendrix will deliver a rumba curated by Hough. Each pair will then attempt a freestyle designed around their individual strengths and fan appeal.
The finale will also feature an ensemble opening number to Never Can Say Goodbye, the return of all twenty four of the season’s couples, and a special appearance by last season’s champions Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson.
The three hour event airs live across ABC and Disney+ at 8 p.m. EST, with next day streaming available on Disney+ and Hulu. With fan voting still influential and the finalists separated by thin margins, the closing performances are expected to decide one of the closest finales in recent seasons.
