Season 32 Winner and Runner-Up
The winner of Dancing with the Stars season 32 was Xochitl Gomez, a professional dancer paired with actor and dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, who secured the Mirrorball Trophy on the season finale. The runner-up was actress and singer Alycia Debnam-Carey, who finished second in the competition alongside her professional partner Sasha Farber. The finale aired on ABC on November 25, 2023, and the results were determined by a combination of judges' scores and viewer votes. The season featured a total of 16 celebrity contestants competing over multiple weeks of live broadcasts.
Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy earned the highest cumulative score across the finals, outperforming Alycia Debnam-Carey and Sasha Farber, who consistently ranked among the top couples throughout the season. The Mirrorball Trophy win marked a significant milestone for the Chmerkovskiy family, with Val's brother Maksim Chmerkovskiy having previously won the competition. The season was broadcast on ABC and streamed on Hulu, with episodes airing on Wednesday nights. The finale was watched by millions of viewers across the United States, maintaining the show's position as a top-rated primetime reality competition.
Scoring and Judges
The season 32 scoring system used a 40-point scale for each routine, with judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli evaluating performances based on technique, artistry, and execution. Each week, the couple with the lowest combined judges' score and viewer vote faced potential elimination, while the highest-scoring couple earned immunity or a bonus. The final scores were calculated from the judges' points and the percentage of audience votes, with the winner determined by the highest total. The season introduced no major rule changes from previous years, keeping the format consistent with the show's long-standing structure.
Judges' Scoring Breakdown
Throughout the season, judges awarded perfect scores to select routines, with Val Chmerkovskiy and Xochitl Gomez receiving multiple 40s for their Latin and contemporary performances. Alycia Debnam-Carey and Sasha Farber also earned high marks, particularly for their Argentine tango and quickstep. The judges' critiques focused on precision, musicality, and storytelling, with Bruno Tonioli often highlighting technical improvements and Len Goodman emphasizing classic ballroom fundamentals. The scoring data was reported after each live show by ABC and confirmed on the official Dancing with the Stars website.
Cast and Professional Dancers
The season 32 cast included celebrities from film, television, music, and sports, with professional dancers selected from the show's existing roster and new additions. The professional lineup featured returning champions and fan-favorite dancers, including Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, and Gleb Savchenko, who were paired with celebrities based on casting decisions and rehearsal compatibility. The cast was announced in the summer of 2023, with training and rehearsals taking place at the show's studio in Los Angeles before the premiere. Each professional dancer brought a distinct specialty, ranging from Latin and ballroom to contemporary and jazz styles.
Professional Dancer Assignments
Val Chmerkovskiy was paired with Xochitl Gomez, while Sasha Farber partnered with Alycia Debnam-Carey, and Gleb Savchenko was matched with another contestant, following the show's standard pairing process. The professional dancers trained with their celebrity partners for several weeks before the first live show, focusing on choreography, stamina, and stage presence. The assignments were managed by the show's casting and production team, with final pairings confirmed before rehearsals began. The professional dancers' rankings were influenced by their couples' performance and the judges' feedback throughout the season.
Broadcast and Viewership
Dancing with the Stars season 32