From the Golden State to the Sunshine State: Get ready for an appearance with America’s newest “Dancing With the Stars” champ Robert Irwin.
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, ABC’s longtime reality TV competition crowned Robert Irwin, son of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, in Los Angeles, California, as the 2025 DWTS Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy winner. His sister, fellow wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin, won “Dancing With the Stars” 10 years ago.
Social media influencer Alix Earle, a University of Miami graduate and Florida resident, was the runner-up on “Dancing With the Stars.”
But back to Robert Irwin and his Florida appearance.
A Florida zoo will welcome the young wildlife conservationist at the Toast to Conservation Gala, an event dedicated to protecting threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, in February 2026.
Robert Irwin, an Australian zookeeper and environmentalist famous for the Animal Planet series “The Crocodile Hunter,” will be the keynote speaker at the 2026 gala at Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, and includes a chef-curated dinner, keynote presentation by Robert Irwin, and an exclusive first look at the new VyStar SkyScape and J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River Habitat prior to its grand opening. Tickets range from $575 for general admission to $4,500 for a table of eight people.
Though Robert Irwin is not from Florida, his family, often referred to as the “royal family” of Australia, does include a Floridian. Robert Irwin also partnered with Orlando, Florida, resident Witney Carson on season 34 of “Dancing With the Stars” on ABC.
Robert Irwin, Australian wildlife conservationist and son of Steve Irwin, was crowned the Len Goodman Mirrorball Champion alongside partner Witney Carson on season 34 of “Dancing With the Stars.”
He won the dance competition Nov. 25, 2025, two days before the Thanksgiving holiday, during the three-hour finale. The episode featured five finalists − including Robert Irwin’s fellow contestants social media personality Alix Earle, content creator Dylan Efron (Zac’s brother), Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and actress Elaine Hendrix (“The Parent Trap” with Lindsay Lohan).
Robert Irwin is an Australian wildlife conservationist and television personality. He is also the son of the late Steve Irwin, a zookeeper, environmentalist and wildlife conservationist famous for the TV series “The Crocodile Hunter,” which aired on Animal Planet. Steve Irwin died Sept. 4, 2006, at 44 years old.
Robert Irwin was born on Dec. 1, 2003, to American-Australian conservationist Terri Irwin and the late wildlife conservationist and “The Crocodile Hunter” star Steve Irwin. He won “Dancing With the Stars” at 21 years old. Fun fact: Robert Irwin’s older sister, Bindi Irwin, won “Dancing With the Stars” during her season − and a young Robert Irwin often cheered for her in the DWTS audience.
While Robert Irwin is not from Florida, he does have some indirect Florida ties:
Robert Irwin voices the character of a koala named Robert Furwin (get it?) in Disney’s “Zootopia 2.”
The animated sequel, starring Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan will be released in theaters Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, a day after Robert Irwin was crowned the 2025 “Dancing With the Stars” champion and ahead of the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday.

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