By Courtney Potter
Are you ready for another glittering race to the Mirrorball trophy? Season 34—and the milestone 20th anniversary—of ABC’s hit reality competition series Dancing with the Stars will (high-)kick off this Tuesday, September 16, live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available the next day on Hulu. Returning to the ballroom are co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, as well as judges Carrie-Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
So, who can audiences expect to see fox-trotting and cha-cha-ing across the dance floor this season? We’ve got your Dancing with the Stars Season 34 primer, so you can pick your favorites and cheer them on all season long! And you never know... it’s usually someone you’re least expecting who turns out to be a fantastic dancer. (Andy Richter, we’re lookin’ at you.)
Here’s the complete list of Season 34 competitors—including a few pals from around the worlds of Disney!—and their professional-dancer partners, in alphabetical order:
Jen Affleck, with partner Jan Ravnik
Affleck is a social media influencer and reality television star known for her role in Hulu’s hit reality TV series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Prior to appearing on that series, she started her career as a successful content creator with almost 4 million followers across her social platforms, and gained popularity through her #MomTok content.
Hilaria Baldwin, with partner Gleb Savchenko
Baldwin is an entrepreneur who recently hosted TLC’s The Baldwins, a reality show offering a behind-the-scenes look at her and her husband Alec’s lives with seven children. She’s also the author of Manual Not Included; Glowing Up: Recipes to Rock Your Natural Beauty with her daughter Carmen; and The Living Clearly Method.
Jordan Chiles, with partner Ezra Sosa
Chiles is a renowned gymnast and two-time Olympian, who helped secure a silver medal for Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, she became one of only three Black gymnasts to sweep the podium at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships—and the following year, she earned two NCAA individual titles with UCLA while embarking on a new chapter as a Nike athlete. Returning to elite competition in 2024, Chiles played a key role in leading Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. A passionate advocate for body positivity and mental health, Chiles inspires young athletes around the globe
Baron Davis, with partner Britt Stewart
Davis is a two-time NBA All-Star, serial entrepreneur, investor, and creator of content and digital platforms. He’s the founder of several companies and has also served as producer of several acclaimed documentaries—including Crips and Bloods: Made In America, 30 for 30: Sole Man, and The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce. With his production company, No Label, Davis was the executive producer of the Hulu Originals show WTF, Baron Davis; and he directed, wrote, and stars in the upcoming comedy Domino: Battle of the Bones.
Alix Earle, with partner Val Chmerkovskiy
Earle is a global social media personality whose rapid rise in popularity and ability to connect with mass audiences are a result of her unexpected reality and candid humor, paired with her beauty, fashion, and lifestyle tips. She has collaborated with and invested in several brands; appeared in major campaigns and Super Bowl spots; and launched her own philanthropic initiative, Serving in Heels. She is also the creator and host of the hit Hot Mess vlog-style podcast.
Dylan Efron, with partner Daniella Karagach
Efron is a producer, content creator, and outdoor enthusiast. In 2025, Efron was crowned the winner of the third season of The Traitors, where his authenticity and gameplay earned him a Critics Choice nomination for Male Star of the Year. Originally from California, Efron began his career behind the scenes on major films like American Sniper and A Star Is Born; after gaining recognition as the co-producer and co-star of Netflix’s Emmy® Award-winning eco-travel series Down to Earth with Zac Efron, he continues to produce digital content that showcases his passion for sustainability, exploration, and immersive storytelling. Most recently, he released the 2025 documentary The Village That Saved a Fish.
Corey Feldman, with partner Jenna Johnson
Feldman is proudly celebrating his 50th anniversary in entertainment. From his first commercial (for McDonald’s) around age 3, to a career that has spanned over 100 theatrical films—18 of which were No. 1 at the box office—along with over 100 television appearances, five TV series, 20 U.S. tours with various bands, three Billboard Top 40 hits, multiple viral videos, and a historic Today show performance that became the most-viewed musical act on the show at the time, his legacy continues to evolve. As one of the original stars of The Goonies, Feldman is helping to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary in 2025 by co-producing a new docuseries that chronicles the refurbishment of the iconic “Goonies house”—a nostalgic landmark for fans across generations. Behind the camera, Feldman has also produced two documentaries as well as a feature film about his life for the Lifetime channel. He is the author of The New York Times bestselling memoir Coreyography.
Danielle Fishel, with partner Pasha Pashkov
Fishel is best known for her iconic role as Topanga on ABC’s ’90s TGIF staple Boy Meets World. She would later reprise the role for Girl Meets World, a millennial reboot that ran for three seasons on Disney Channel. Since 2017, Fishel has moved behind the camera—directing over 50 episodes of multicamera television, including Disney Channel’s Wizards Beyond Waverly Place and Raven’s Home (for which she was nominated for two Emmys®); ABC’s Shifting Gears, and NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez. She also co-hosts the hit iHeart podcast Pod Meets World, alongside her best friends and former co-stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong.
Elaine Hendrix, with partner Alan Bersten
Hendrix is beloved for unforgettable roles in Disney’s The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan; Superstar with Molly Shannon, and the cult classic Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion. She also dazzled as the legendary Alexis Carrington in The CW’s hit Dynasty reboot; frequently collaborates with Denis Leary in projects including FX’s Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Universal’s Erase, and FOX’s Super Bowl campaign “Dogs Playing Poker”; and has appeared on numerous fan-favorite TV shows like Friends, Criminal Minds, and CSI. She recently reunited with Lohan for a cameo in Disney’s smash hit Freakier Friday. On stage, she has starred in Designing Women, Steel Magnolias, and A Streetcar Named Desire, is currently co-producing the buzzworthy off-Broadway sensation Ginger Twinsies. Soon, she’ll headline as Dolly Levi in OFC Creations Theatre Center’s 2026 production of Hello, Dolly!
Scott Hoying, with partner Rylee Arnold
Hoying is a Grammy® and Emmy® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and artist. While studying music at USC, he discovered his passion for a cappella and started the a cappella group Pentatonix. The vocal quintet quickly rose to international fame and has since collaborated with Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, Maren Morris, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, and Andrea Bocelli, among others. With Pentatonix, Hoying has won three Grammys; sold more than 13 million albums; and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Robert Irwin, with partner Witney Carson
Irwin is a passionate wildlife conservationist who is determined to protect wildlife and inspire others through his work behind and in front of the lens as a nature photographer and TV presenter. He and his family live at Australia Zoo and also operate the nonprofit charity Wildlife Warriors. There is nothing he enjoys more than heading out into the Crocoseum to participate in daily croc demonstrations—where he has the opportunity to share his love and knowledge of his favorite animal, crocodiles!
Lauren Jauregui, with partner Brandon Armstrong
Jauregui is a Cuban-American singer-songwriter who began as one-fifth of the award-winning, arena-filling, and chart-dominating Fifth Harmony. She has collaborated with everyone from Halsey and Steve Aoki to Ty Dolla $ign, and she dropped her first solo single, “Expectations,” in 2018—generating over 100 million streams. She also contributed “Invisible Chains” to Birds of Prey: The Album. Outside of music, Jauregui is an activist for social justice initiatives and environmental awareness, including human rights, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and care for our planet. She embraced freedom of expression both personally and creatively on her independent debut EP, Prelude—and her first solo album is currently in the works for 2026.
Whitney Leavitt, with partner Mark Ballas
Leavitt—called “the breakout star” of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives by Vulture—touts an audience of 3.1 million-plus across TikTok and Instagram. She just wrapped Season 2 of the show, which premiered with 5 million views after five days of global streaming. The 32-year-old mom of three has been featured by Vulture; ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live; People and Glamour magazines; and more.
Andy Richter, with partner Emma Slater
Richter is an actor, comedian, and writer—best known for his years as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick on Late Night, The Tonight Show, and CONAN. He is currently the host of The Three Questions podcast, as well as the SiriusXM show The Andy Richter Call-in Show. As an actor, he’s appeared in films such as Elf and Madagascar, as well as television shows including Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Andy Barker, P.I., and Arrested Development.