Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old conservationist, television personality and son of the late Steve Irwin, has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for Season 34 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. The reveal came Tuesday during Disney Entertainment Television’s Get Real event in Los Angeles, where Irwin made a surprise appearance — shirtless, with a live snake draped around his neck.
“I cannot tell you what a privilege, what an honor it is to be joining this season,” Irwin told the crowd. “I said, ‘One day, that’s gonna be me.’ And now, that dream is a reality. I am over the moon. Let’s do this!”
Irwin’s participation comes nearly a decade after his sister, Bindi Irwin, won Season 21 of the dance competition in 2015 alongside professional dancer Derek Hough. Her emotional journey on the show — which included heartfelt tributes to their late father — made her one of the most beloved champions in DWTS history.
Carrying On the Irwin Legacy
Robert Irwin has spent his life preserving and expanding his family’s wildlife conservation mission. The Irwin family operates the Australia Zoo, where Robert works alongside his mother Terri Irwin and sister Bindi. Together, they starred in the popular Animal Planet docuseries Crikey! It’s the Irwins, which showcases their hands-on work with wildlife.
At just two years old, Robert lost his father, Steve Irwin — the legendary “Crocodile Hunter” — who died in 2006 after a stingray injury. Since then, Robert has followed in his dad’s footsteps, becoming a respected wildlife advocate in his own right. In September 2024, he was named a global ambassador for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, a prestigious initiative supporting solutions to climate and environmental challenges.
From Wildlife to the Ballroom
While Irwin may be best known for handling crocodiles and snakes, he’s no stranger to viral fame. Earlier this month, he made headlines for his daring — and cheeky — modeling campaign with Australian underwear brand Bonds, which is expanding into the U.S. market.
The campaign featured Irwin posing in briefs alongside venomous snakes, lizards, and spiders. Despite the buzz surrounding the campaign’s revealing photos, Irwin said the mission remains rooted in awareness.
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“As long as my cheeky ads bring awareness to animal conservation, stripping down to my underwear will have been worth it,” Irwin said in an interview with PEOPLE.
“We are all trying to continue an important legacy that my dad started,” he added. “And sometimes that comes in the form of modeling Bonds! It may seem unexpected, but it’s about reaching new audiences and spreading the conservation message in new ways.”
Asked how his father might have reacted to the photos, Irwin laughed, “There’d probably be a few ‘Crikeys’ thrown around!”
‘DWTS’ Ratings and What’s Next
The announcement of Season 34 follows a record-breaking run for Dancing With the Stars in 2024. Season 33 ranked No. 1 among adults 18–49 in live and same-day viewing, a first in the show’s long history. The season also drew the largest total audience in three years, reaching 7.95 million viewers, and set new franchise voting records — with over 32 million votes cast during the finale.
While a premiere date for Season 34 has not yet been announced, the upcoming cast is expected to be revealed in full later this summer, including the celebrity-pro dancer pairings. Longtime hosts and judges are also expected to return, continuing the legacy of the hit dance competition that blends celebrity, storytelling, and show-stopping choreography.
With Irwin now confirmed, fans are eager to see how the conservationist’s natural charisma and family connection to the show will translate to the dance floor.
