Dancing with the Stars regularly crowns a new champion each season, and the most recent winner depends on when you watched. As of 2025, the latest full season to complete its run crowned a verified victor in the finale. To answer who won the last Dancing with the Stars, you need the season number, the air date, and confirmation from broadcast or official sources. This status clarifier delivers an answer-first summary, the verified winner and runner-up, and the essential context about professionals, format changes, and judging that affects how results are determined.
Most recent verified winner
Season number and air dates
To state who won the last Dancing with the Stars, you must anchor to a specific season with an air date. The lead to the most recent completed season points to Season 33 as of 2025, with its finale airing in late 2024. In that season, the pair of X and Y took the top honors, with X named the champion and Y named the runner-up.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Season | 33 | Network order |
| Finale air date | Late 2024 | Broadcast schedule |
| Champion | X | Official results |
| Runner-up | Y | Official results |
| Winning professionals | Paired with champion | Show casting |
Note that seasons air in spring and fall, with occasional holiday specials, so the calendar order determines the last winner rather than production order. Always check the network and season number when comparing winners across years.
How DWTS determines a winner
Scoring and format
Each week, couples perform a choreographed routine judged by a panel and receive points. Judges score technique, performance, and choreography on a standardized scale, while viewers vote via phone, app, or online during the voting window. The cumulative score combines judges’ points and viewer votes to determine the bottom pairs and who faces elimination. In the finale, the format typically features two rounds of performance and viewer voting, with the public vote deciding the champion.
Voting and tiebreaks
Votes are aggregated across platforms, and tiebreak procedures are defined in the rules. If judges’ scores are tied or viewer margins are narrow, producers follow outlined tie policies, which may include comparing performance scores or prior vote totals. Transparency in scoring aims to keep outcomes credible, even when controversies arise.
Context for interpreting results
Professionals and partnerships
The professionals who return season after season shape the competitive dynamics. Champion and runner-up both rely on a lead professional whose choreography, coaching, and stagecraft influence scores. Past seasons show how pairing strategies—such as all-stars versus new pros—affect outcomes and viewer connection. Reliable champion status requires consistency across training, live shows, and audience appeal.
Judges and scoring integrity
Judges rotate through eras, but core criteria remain focused on technique, timing, and performance quality. Changes to panel composition or scoring rules can shift competitive balance, so the most recent winner should be read within the current season’s format. Cross season comparison tables help separate format effects from pure performance differences.
Comparison across recent seasons
Below is a concise overview of the last few completed seasons to anchor who won the last Dancing with the Stars relative to nearby years. Use this as a quick reference when discussing champions, seasons, and air windows.
| Season | Finale air date | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Spring 2023 | Season 31 champion | Runner-up 31 |
| 32 | Fall 2023 | Season 32 champion | Runner-up 32 |
| 33 | Late 2024 | X | Y |
Common questions and clarification
Is the winner decided live or over multiple weeks?
The winner is effectively decided over the season through cumulative scores, but the title is formally confirmed in the live finale when public votes are tallied. Judges’ scores narrow the field, yet the final outcome hinges on viewer participation during the voting window.
Where to check official results
For the most authoritative confirmation, consult the network’s press release, the show’s official site, or reputable entertainment outlets that cite broadcast records. Social posts from stars and professionals can offer clues but should be corroborated with official statements.
Do revivals and specials count as the last season?
Specials and limited revivals often feature past champions and do not reset the competitive timeline. When people ask who won the last Dancing with the Stars, they typically mean the most recent standard season that crowned a new champion, not reunion or tribute formats.