Robert Irwin’s star has been shining even brighter since he clinched the coveted Mirrorball Trophy on season 34 of Dancing with the Stars in November 2025. But if you thought the wildlife conservationist and son of the legendary Steve Irwin would be slowing down after his dance floor triumph, think again. The 22-year-old Australian zookeeper has found himself at the center of swirling rumors, major public appearances, and a packed schedule that has him crisscrossing the globe—from the glitz of Hollywood to the heart of Florida’s conservation community.
On February 10, 2026, Irwin addressed persistent rumors about whether he’d be the next leading man on ABC’s hit dating series The Bachelor. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight at an NFL Super Bowl event, Irwin played coy but didn’t close the door on the possibility. “Never say never, I’m in this realm right now where I’m like, never say never,” he said, stirring up even more speculation among fans. He added with a laugh, “Watch this space. Who knows? It’s a strange world, anything could happen.” According to Parade and Entertainment Tonight, rumors about Irwin’s potential crossover to The Bachelor began while he was still competing on Dancing with the Stars—and they haven’t let up since.
Despite the public’s curiosity, Irwin is quick to remind everyone that his life isn’t always as glamorous as it seems. “I’m a zookeeper. I’m an animal conservationist. That’s my thing. My world is very different from most of the things that are reported on about me,” he told Entertainment Tonight. He described his day-to-day as “a lot more boring than you might think. It’s exciting when it comes to animals. I’m jumping on crocs, I’m handling snakes and rescuing koalas. But when it comes to that side of it (romance) I’m pretty vanilla.”
Irwin’s romantic life has certainly been the subject of much speculation. His most recent public relationship was with Rorie Buckley, niece of the late actor Heath Ledger. The couple dated for over a year before splitting in 2024, keeping their romance largely out of the spotlight. More recently, Irwin sparked dating rumors with actress and former DWTS winner Xochitl Gomez after they danced together during the show’s Relay round. But if you’re hoping for juicy details, you’ll be disappointed. Irwin insists he keeps his romantic life private, sharing with Parade that “everything’s good, life’s great.”
When asked about what he’s looking for in a partner, Irwin’s answer is refreshingly down-to-earth. “I think more than anything else, just genuine kindness, and that’s so important. I think you need to surround yourself with people who are genuinely kind,” he told E! News. He added, “My life is a whirlwind, it’s an adventure. I would love to be able to share that with someone and to share those little moments. I have a lot of great role models in the love department and a lot of people I look up to and go, ‘Wow, couples goals.’ So I want to find that. It’s something you kind of can’t rush. It just has to happen, and you’ve got to be open to that. I know she’s out there, and I look forward to it.”
Irwin’s family history is filled with serendipitous love stories that he can’t help but admire. His sister, Bindi Irwin, has been married to Chandler Powell since 2020, and the two share a four-year-old daughter named Grace. His mother, Terri Irwin, famously met Steve Irwin in October 1991 at the Australia Zoo—where she was just a tourist at the time. “In both instances, [Terri and Chandler] were American tourists that were coming over and visiting the zoo,” Irwin told People. “So I’m waiting. I’m waiting for that American tourist to come into the zoo and for it all to happen!” He mused, “I look at when my brother-in-law Chandler and my sister Bindi met, it was just meant to be. And when my mom and dad met, it was this crazy, serendipitous, amazing moment that just was a fluke.”
Outside of his personal life, Irwin remains deeply committed to his true passion: wildlife conservation. Much of his time is spent working alongside his mother Terri and sister Bindi to run the Australia Zoo, continuing the legacy of his late father, Steve Irwin, the beloved “Crocodile Hunter.” According to USA TODAY, Irwin recently brought his conservation message to the United States, serving as the keynote speaker at the Jacksonville Zoo’s Toast to Conservation Gala in Florida on February 10, 2026. The sold-out event, aimed at protecting threatened species and ecosystems, featured a chef-curated dinner and an exclusive first look at the new VyStar SkyScape and J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River Habitat before their grand opening.
Irwin’s whirlwind year doesn’t end there. He’s set to join the Dancing with the Stars: Live! tour for select dates from April 21 to April 30, 2026, performing alongside his dance partner and fellow mirrorball winner Witney Carson. The tour will take them to California, Nevada, and Arizona, with an earlier Florida leg in March that includes stops in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Clearwater, and Hollywood. According to USA TODAY, the Florida performances will feature actress Elaine Hendrix as a special guest co-host. The tour kicked off in Akron, Ohio, on January 22 and will wrap up there in May.
Meanwhile, the crossover between Dancing with the Stars and other entertainment properties continues to surprise fans. Gleb Savchenko, a longtime pro from DWTS, is set to guest star on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Alexei, alongside dancer Marcquet Hill as Davis. The duo will perform at Daphne Rose’s bridal shower, with choreography created spontaneously on set. Savchenko, who has competed on 13 seasons of DWTS since joining in season 16, told US Weekly that he’d be open to more acting opportunities, saying, “I love when storytelling and movement come together in a meaningful way on screen.”
As for Dancing with the Stars itself, the show is currently on hiatus as of February 10, 2026. But with stars like Robert Irwin continuing to make headlines—whether for conservation, entertainment, or just by being himself—fans have plenty to watch for in the months ahead.
For Robert Irwin, life may be “a lot more boring than you might think,” but from the outside looking in, it’s anything but. Whether he’s wrangling wildlife, dazzling on the dance floor, or dodging rumors about his romantic future, Irwin’s journey is one that continues to capture the imagination of fans around the world.