Second place went to Kenji “The Dad” Murakami, a 68-year-old retired plumber from Ohio who only signed up because his granddaughter dared him. Kenji became an overnight folk hero by doing the cha-cha in work boots and cargo shorts.
His signature move? The “Pipe Wrench Pivot,” where he’d fix an imaginary leak while spinning. The internet lost its collective mind. People printed T-shirts. He got a standing ovation from a plumber’s union in Cleveland.
So how did a former gymnast beat a grandpa with a wrench? She had what we call “the full package.” I mean, Regina literally opened her finale with a backflip into a tango while holding a glass of wine. She didn’t spill a drop. The crowd screamed. The wine didn’t.
Who won Dancing With The Stars 2026? Winner revealed after live final
The Secret Weapon: The “Mindset” Episode
Here’s a surprising fact: DWTS 2026 introduced a “Mental Health Monday” episode, where couples danced to songs about therapy. Regina chose “Expresso” by Sabrina Carpenter—because, as she explained, “I survive on caffeine and repressed emotions.” The dance went viral. It also won her a perfect score.
Kenji, on the other hand, danced to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story, but in a performance so emotional he cried on live TV. Then his wife yelled from the audience, “You forgot the garbage disposal, Kenji!” Romantic tension: shattered.
Another shocker: third place went to a literal AI chatbot. No, I’m kidding. But I’m not kidding—it was a hologram projection of a 1980s pop star named Zara Vibe, who died in 1999. The show used deepfake technology, and she danced with a human pro.
It was incredibly creepy but also mesmerizing. She did a waltz, then glitched mid-spin and started singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in binary. The judges gave her an 8. “For artistry and innovation,” said Carrie Ann Inaba, “but minus two points for making me question reality.”
Back to Regina: her finale was a freestyle to a mashup of Lady Gaga and polka. Yes, polka. I know what you’re thinking, and no, it wasn’t a joke. Dmitry wore lederhosen covered in Swarovski crystals.
Who Won Dancing with the Stars 2026? The Full Season 34 Results
They incorporated the “Polka Hop,” a move where Regina jumped onto his shoulders while he accordion-ed his arms. It worked. It absolutely worked. The audience gave a standing ovation that lasted nearly four minutes.
