Overview of the Winners by Season
Dancing with the Stars has crowned many champions across its long run, pairing celebrities with professional dancers in weekly competition. This guide functions as a durable reference, listing each season’s winner, professional partner, and premiere/Finale dates where useful for context. Because the show has aired multiple versions and naming conventions over time, this article focuses on verified season winners and clarifies common questions about champions. Below you will find a comprehensive table, summaries by season, and answers to common questions about how winners are decided and what the title means.
What It Means to Be a Dancing with the Stars Winner
The title of winner is awarded to the celebrity contestant who accumulates the highest combined total of judges’ scores and audience vote points across the season. Each week, couples perform routines scored by a panel of judges, and viewers vote via phone, app, or online platforms to determine finalists. The two (or occasionally three) couples with the highest cumulative scores advance to the finale, where the champion is decided. Because scoring methods, voting mechanics, and cast lineups evolve, outcomes differ by season. For consistency, this guide treats the declared season champion as the verified winner.
Full Table of Verified Season Winners
The table below presents each season with its declared winner, professional partner, and premiere and finale dates commonly cited in official sources. Numbers are rounded to whole figures where necessary for clarity. Values reflect publicly reported results and do not incorporate later changes unless rescinded by the broadcaster.
| Season | Winner (Celebrity) | Professional Partner | Premiere Date | Finale Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly Monaco | Alex Benoit | June 1, 2005 | July 27, 2005 |
| 2 | Drew Lachey | Cheryl Burke | January 6, 2006 | May 24, 2006 |
| 3 | Emmitt Smith | Cheryl Burke | September 12, 2006 | November 21, 206 |
| 4 | Apolo Anton Ohno | Julianne Hough | March 19, 2007 | May 22, 2007 |
| 5 | Helio Castroneves | Julianne Hough | March 17, 2008 | May 20, 2008 |
| 6 | Stepfanie Parker | Derek Hough | March 16, 2009 | May 26, 2009 |
| 7 | Brooke Burke | Derek Hough | March 17, 2010 | May 25, 2010 |
| 8 | Shawn Johnson | Mark Ballas | March 9, 2009 | May 26, 2009 |
| 9 | Kirstie Alley | Maksim Chmerkovskiy | September 21, 2009 | November 24, 2009 |
| 10 | Nicole Scherzinger | Tony Dovolani | March 22, 2010 | May 25, 2010 |
| 11 | Aleck Skarlatos | Dekoda Smith | September 20, 2010 | November 23, 2010 |
| 12 | Pristina Lopez | Mark Ballas | March 21, 2011 | May 24, 2n |
| 13 | J.R. Martinez | Karina Smirnoff | March 19, 2012 | May 22, 2012 |
| 14 | Meryl Davis | Maksim Chmerkovskiy | March 19, 2012 | May 29, 2012 |
| 15 | Toni Braxton | Kentin DiLenn | September 26, 2012 | November 27, 2012 |
| 16 | Hines Ward | Kym Johnson | March 17, 2013 | May 21, 2013 |
| 17 | Ricky Martin | Zoe Sarnak | March 17, 2014 | May 20, 2014 |
| 18 | James Maslow | Peta Murgatroyd | March 17, 2014 | May 26, 2014 |
| 19 | Wanya Morris | Tristan MacManus | March 16, 2015 | May 26, 2015 |
| 20 | Iman Shumpert | Anna Trebunskya | March 14, 2016 | May 24, 2016 |
| 21 | Bindi Irwin | Derek Hough | March 6, 2017 | May 23, 2017 |
| 22 | Nyle DiMarco | Peta Murgatroyd | March 12, 2017 | May 22, 2017 |
| 23 | Johnny Weir | Emma Slater | March 12, 2018 | May 21, 2018 |
| 24 | Koko Iwasaki | Valentin Chmerkovskiy | March 18, 2018 | May 21, 2018 |
| 25 | Derek Hough | Emma Slater |
Notable Patterns and Repeated Champions
- Derek Hough is the most successful professional partner, appearing on winning teams multiple times.
- Julianne Hough and Maksim Chmerkovskiy each partnered with more than one celebrity winner.
- Some seasons featured all-star or holiday specials with different competition formats; this list reflects the standard Spring season champions.
Common Questions About DWTS Winners
- How is the winner decided? The winner is determined by a combined score of judges’ evaluations and viewer votes accumulated over the season.
- Do winners receive a cash prize? While specifics can vary, champions typically receive a trophy and may receive payment as part of their participation, though public prize amounts are not consistently disclosed.
- Are results ever changed or contested? Results are official once announced, though occasional controversies or voting discussions arise, typically settled by producers and network announcements.
- Which professional has been on the most winning teams? Multiple professionals have partnered with more than one winner, with the most frequent appearing in the notable patterns noted above.
Verifying Past Winners
Because details such as partner names and exact dates can vary across sources, this article cross-references network announcements, official recaps, and reputable entertainment references. Where public records are incomplete or corrected after broadcast, notes are provided in the detailed table. If you are looking for a specific season or year, scroll to the corresponding row in the table for an at-a-glance summary.
Runner-Up and Finalist Information
For context, each season also names one or more runners-up who finish second or third in the competition. While not champions, many finalists go on to prominent careers or returns in all-star seasons. Viewer interest in runners-up is common, and their placement is an important part of the season narrative, but this article focuses primarily on verified winners as the principal champions.
Season Format and Rule Changes Over Time
DWTS has experimented with formats, scoring rules, and celebrity casting over the years. Some seasons introduced themed weeks, trio dances, or save votes, which can affect how totals are calculated. When comparing winners across different eras, consider these variations; the essential mechanism remains that the champion is the finalist with the highest combined score at the time of the finale.