Presenting: All the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Winners and Runners-Up

The Mirrorball Trophy. It’s shiny, it’s over-the-top, and for over 30 seasons, it’s been the ultimate prize for celebrities willing to trade their dignity for a spray tan and some truly punishing rehearsals. It’s a pop culture institution.

From soap stars to boy banders and NFL legends, the history of Dancing with the Stars is a wild ride of shocking upsets, emotional breakthroughs, and at least one Carlton dance. Here’s a look back at every single winner and the star who *almost* took home the glittery glory.

 

 

The OG Era: Finding Its Sequined Feet

Back when the show was brand new, the lighting was a little harsher and the costumes were a little crunchier. This was the wild west of the ballroom, where the rules were few and the stars were game for anything. The early Dancing with the Stars cast lists were a glorious mix of nostalgia acts and athletes ready to prove they had rhythm.

 

 

Season 1 (2005)

Winner: Kelly Monaco & Alec Mazo
Runner-Up: John O’Hurley & Charlotte Jørgensen

The one that started it all. The General Hospital star’s surprise win over the much-hyped John O’Hurley was so controversial they held a special “dance-off” episode. She won that, too. An icon was born.

 

 

Season 2 (2006)

Winner: Drew Lachey & Cheryl Burke
Runner-Up: Jerry Rice & Anna Trebunskaya

The 98 Degrees singer was a total natural, bringing boy band precision to the ballroom. This season also introduced us to the legendary pro Cheryl Burke, who snagged her first of two back-to-back wins.

 

 

Season 3 (2006)

Winner: Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke
Runner-Up: Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff

The NFL running back proved that massive football players could have the lightest feet. His win over a ridiculously charming Mario Lopez was a nail-biter, cementing the show’s love affair with athletes.

 

 

Season 4 (2007)

Winner: Apolo Anton Ohno & Julianne Hough
Runner-Up: Joey Fatone & Kym Johnson

An Olympic speed skater on a dance floor? Turns out, it’s a perfect match. Apolo’s explosive energy was undeniable, and this season gave us our first glimpse of Julianne Hough as a pro powerhouse.

 

 

Season 5 (2007)

Winner: Hélio Castroneves & Julianne Hough
Runner-Up: Mel B & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

The IndyCar driver’s infectious smile won over America, giving Julianne her second consecutive Mirrorball. But let’s be real, Scary Spice was an absolute force of nature.

 

 

Season 6 (2008)

Winner: Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas
Runner-Up: Jason Taylor & Edyta Śliwińska

Some people are just born to perform. The Olympic figure skater was grace personified, delivering one of the most technically flawless runs in the show’s history.

 

 

Season 7 (2008)

Winner: Brooke Burke & Derek Hough
Runner-Up: Warren Sapp & Kym Johnson

Before she was a host, she was a champion. Brooke Burke was the total package, giving Derek Hough his very first win. And so, a dynasty began.

 

 

Season 8 (2009)

Winner: Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas
Runner-Up: Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke

The gymnast-to-ballroom pipeline is strong. Shawn’s pocket-sized power was incredible, but she just barely edged out the impossibly suave Gilles Marini in one of the tightest finales ever.

 

 

Season 9 (2009)

Winner: Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson
Runner-Up: Mýa & Dmitry Chaplin

A true showman. Donny came to entertain, and that’s exactly what he did, charming his way to a win against the technically superior Mýa.

 

 

The Golden Age: A Ratings Juggernaut

This is when DWTS became an absolute monster. The stars were bigger, the scores were higher, and every season felt like a massive cultural event. If you wanted to stage a comeback or launch a second act, you got your agent to book this show.

 

 

Season 10 (2010)

Winner: Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough
Runner-Up: Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya

The Pussycat Dolls frontwoman was basically a professional dancer already, but who cares? She was electric to watch, delivering showstopper after showstopper.

 

 

Season 11 (2010)

Winner: Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough
Runner-Up: Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer

Nobody puts Baby in a corner, and nobody was going to deny the Dirty Dancing star her Mirrorball. Her journey was emotional, powerful, and a total Hollywood ending.

 

 

Season 12 (2011)

Winner: Hines Ward & Kym Johnson
Runner-Up: Kirstie Alley & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Another NFL star, another victory. Hines Ward’s charisma was off the charts, but Kirstie Alley’s chaotic and hilarious run was the stuff of legends.

 

 

Season 13 (2011)

Winner: J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff
Runner-Up: Rob Kardashian & Cheryl Burke

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The army veteran and soap star’s story of resilience and positivity was incredibly moving, making for one of the most beloved wins in the show’s history.

 

 

Season 14 (2012)

Winner: Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd
Runner-Up: Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas

The Green Bay Packer had a million-watt smile and the moves to back it up. He beat out a literal opera singer, which is just an incredible sentence to type.

 

 

Season 15: All-Stars (2012)

Winner: Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani
Runner-Up: Shawn Johnson & Derek Hough

The ultimate redemption tour. After coming in third on her original season, the former Bachelor contestant came back and proved she was a champion all along.

 

 

Season 16 (2013)

Winner: Kellie Pickler & Derek Hough
Runner-Up: Zendaya & Val Chmerkovskiy

Kellie was the definition of a dark horse, a bubbly country singer who transformed into a stunningly beautiful dancer. Yes, she beat Zendaya. We’re still processing it.

 

 

Season 17 (2013)

Winner: Amber Riley & Derek Hough
Runner-Up: Corbin Bleu & Karina Smirnoff

The Glee star brought powerhouse vocals and even more powerful moves to the dance floor. It was a battle of the musical theater kids, and Amber came out on top.

 

 

Season 18 (2014)

Winner: Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Runner-Up: Amy Purdy & Derek Hough

An Olympic ice dancer who knows how to partner and perform? Shocking, she was amazing. This season finally gave Maks his long-awaited, much-deserved Mirrorball.

 

 

Season 19 (2014)

Winner: Alfonso Ribeiro & Witney Carson
Runner-Up: Sadie Robertson & Mark Ballas

Was there ever any doubt? From week one, this was Alfonso’s trophy to lose. The moment he finally did “The Carlton” is a top-five moment in DWTS history, period.

 

 

The Modern Shake-Up: New Hosts, New Rules

The show started to feel a little different in this era. We saw host changes, judging panel shake-ups, and some truly unexpected winners. The Dancing with the Stars cast started to include more social media personalities and reality TV royalty.

 

 

Season 20 (2015)

Winner: Rumer Willis & Val Chmerkovskiy
Runner-Up: Riker Lynch & Allison Holker

Hollywood royalty took the crown. Rumer’s vulnerable, passionate performances earned her the win and gave Val his first Mirrorball trophy.

 

 

Season 21 (2015)

Winner: Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough
Runner-Up: Nick Carter & Sharna Burgess

The daughter of the Crocodile Hunter was a ball of sunshine and pure joy. It was physically impossible to not root for her. A truly wonderful and well-deserved win.

 

 

Season 22 (2016)

Winner: Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd
Runner-Up: Paige VanZant & Mark Ballas

Absolutely breathtaking. The model and deaf activist couldn’t hear the music, so he danced to Peta’s rhythm and created some of the most beautiful routines the show has ever seen.

 

 

Season 23 (2016)

Winner: Laurie Hernandez & Val Chmerkovskiy
Runner-Up: James Hinchcliffe & Sharna Burgess

The Olympic gymnast was nicknamed “the human emoji” for a reason. Her expressive and explosive routines made her a clear front-runner from the very first night.

 

 

Season 24 (2017)

Winner: Rashad Jennings & Emma Slater
Runner-Up: David Ross & Lindsay Arnold

Another NFL player takes the trophy! Rashad’s charm was off the charts, and his shocking improvement from week to week finally earned pro Emma Slater her first win.

 

 

Season 25 (2017)

Winner: Jordan Fisher & Lindsay Arnold
Runner-Up: Lindsey Stirling & Mark Ballas

Let’s be honest, Jordan Fisher could have been a pro on this show. The actor and singer was so polished, so professional, and so perfect that his win felt inevitable.

 

 

Season 26: Athletes (2018)

Winner: Adam Rippon & Jenna Johnson
Runner-Up: Josh Norman & Sharna Burgess

In a shortened season of all athletes, the Olympic figure skater’s wit and undeniable grace made him the clear champion. We loved every second of it.

 

 

Season 27 (2018)

Winner: Bobby Bones & Sharna Burgess
Runner-Up: Milo Manheim & Witney Carson

The win that launched a thousand arguments. The radio host’s massive fanbase powered him to a victory that stunned everyone, including Bobby himself. Love it or hate it, you can’t say it wasn’t memorable.

 

 

Season 28 (2019)

Winner: Hannah Brown & Alan Bersten
Runner-Up: Kel Mitchell & Witney Carson

The Bachelorette beast-mode was in full effect. Hannah B brought drama, determination, and some seriously good dancing to win it all.

 

 

Season 29 (2020)

Winner: Kaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev
Runner-Up: Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson

Another Bachelorette, another Mirrorball. Kaitlyn had been campaigning to be on the show for years, and she made the most of her shot with a series of beautiful, technically impressive routines.

 

 

The Streaming Era: Hello, Disney+

With a big move to streaming, the show got a new burst of energy. The return of beloved hosts, a slightly faster pace, and a whole new audience tuning in. The Dancing with the Stars news cycle is now a year-round event.

 

 

Season 30 (2021)

Winner: Iman Shumpert & Daniella Karagach
Runner-Up: JoJo Siwa & Jenna Johnson

The first-ever NBA player to win! Iman and Daniella’s height difference was a challenge they turned into a superpower, delivering one of the sickest freestyles in the show’s history. Truly legendary.

 

 

Season 31 (2022)

Winner: Charli D’Amelio & Mark Ballas
Runner-Up: Gabby Windey & Val Chmerkovskiy

The TikTok queen proved her dance skills went way beyond a 15-second clip. With her mom also competing, the D’Amelio takeover of the ballroom was complete.

 

 

Season 32 (2026)

Winner: Xochitl Gomez & Val Chmerkovskiy
Runner-Up: Jason Mraz & Daniella Karagach

The Marvel star was a ball of fire from week one. At just 17, she danced with a maturity and skill far beyond her years, making her one of the most exciting young winners ever.

 

 

Season 33 (2026)

Winner: Matt Rife & Britt Stewart
Runner-Up: Lacey Chabert & Artem Chigvintsev

The stand-up comedian proved he had more than just jokes. While his early scores were rocky, his incredible charisma and a killer freestyle propelled him past the always-graceful Hallmark queen Lacey Chabert.

 

 

Season 34 (2026)

Winner: Jake Shane & Peta Murgatroyd
Runner-Up: Fran Drescher & Val Chmerkovskiy

The viral sensation known for his hilarious food reviews cooked up a win. Jake’s journey from awkward internet star to confident ballroom king was the story of the season, narrowly beating out America’s favorite nanny, Fran Drescher.

 

 

So, Who’s Next?

Thirty-four seasons. Thirty-four Mirrorball trophies handed out. The show has become a bizarre and beautiful celebrity crucible, transforming athletes into artists and reality stars into real-deal dancers. You just never know who’s going to surprise you.

The best Dancing with the Stars cast always has that perfect blend of talent, personality, and pure chaos. As we look ahead to the next season in fall 2026, we can only wonder which star will be brave enough to step onto that stage next. Get your score paddles ready.