Dylan Efron to Join “Dancing with the Stars” Season 34, Fulfilling Family Dream

September 04, 2025 - LOS ANGELES - Social media star and reality‐show champion Dylan Efron has officially been announced as a contestant on Season 34 of ABC’s hit competition Dancing with the Stars, set to premiere September 16 on ABC and Disney+.

According to an announcement on Good Morning America aired Wednesday, Efron, 33, will be partnered with professional dancer Daniella Karagach as one of the fourteen celebrity competitors vying for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. His inclusion completes a longstanding wish: Efron revealed to PEOPLE that his mother, Starla Baskett, had dreamed two decades ago of seeing his older brother, Zac Efron, compete on the series.

“My mom, her dream was Zac doing the show 20 years ago, so I’m really excited for my mom to be there,” Efron shared. He added that his entire family-including his dad, little brother, and little sister-will be in the stands, a moment he expects will bring him to tears.

Efron rose to prominence after winning Season 3 of the reality competition The Traitors earlier this year, earning acclaim as a breakout personality and social media phenomenon. Transitioning from that triumph, he now looks to channel his competitive spirit into ballroom dancing. Efron admitted that he and Karagach have already found a strong rapport in rehearsal, blending moments of intense focus with lighthearted fun: “It’s a mix of…trying our hardest, and then we’re twerking for 45 minutes,” he joked.

Season 34’s cast also features Olympic gold‐medalist Jordan Chiles, actors Danielle Fishel and Corey Feldman, NBA All‐Star Baron Davis, and a host of entertainers and athletes across genres. Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro return as co‐hosts, with Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli seated at the judges’ table.

Dancing with the Stars Season 34 premieres Tuesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and simulcast on Disney+. Episodes will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.