Robert Irwin’s TV run isn’t quite over.
After winning Dancing with the Stars, the wildlife conservationist will be appearing in a new reality competition series, but with a twist.
The 22-year-old is swinging into I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here (Australia), but he won’t be appearing as a contestant, as many expected.
Instead, for the third year in a row, he’ll be serving as a co-host alongside Julia Morris.
After all, we already know Irwin can survive and navigate life in the jungle!
Irwin replaced longtime co-host Dr. Chris Brown, first appearing in Season 10, which premiered on March 24, 2024, followed by season 11 on January 19, 2025.
Now, a whole year later, he’s stepping into the role again for the 12th season, premiering on January 18, 2026, on Channel 10 AU.
The return was teased on Instagram, with the show’s caption noting, “A brand new bunch of celebs are trading the luxury life for the jungle life on Jan 18! 🤩🦁🐊.”
The reality competition series gained popularity in the UK and Australia, with a very short-lived stint in the U.S., with its format taking celebrities out of their normal lives and dropping them into a jungle camp where they must fend for themselves, all while facing off in challenges and earning the public’s adoration to avoid being voted off.
Contestants are eliminated one by one before the last standing man or woman standing earns the title of Queen/King of the Jungle.
Unfortunately for U.S. viewers who are looking to get their Irwin fix, it seems like the series will remain unavailable to stream in the States.
After taking home the Mirror Ball Trophy on DWTS, Irwin has been gaining plenty of momentum amongst new and former fans alike.
He previously revealed his post-DWTS project, working at the Crocodile Hunter Lodge at the Australia Zoo.
“It has been quite the passion project that we’ve been working on back home in Australia Zoo,” he said.
The lodge, an “eco-luxury” accommodation that opened in 2022 and is nestled in the Australia Zoo, is inspired by his late father, Steve Irwin, and his “legacy and love for wild places.”
As for fans who want more Irwin but can’t make the trek to Australia, they can purchase the Robert Irwin 2026 calendar, which benefits the Australia Zoo, and features photos that capture what people love most about him: his passion for conservation, his joyful personality and his talent for connecting people with nature.