2026 WDSF Dancesport Festival Returns To Blackpool

The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) will bring the world’s elite DanceSport athletes back to Blackpool from 25 to 29 March 2026, as the WDSF DanceSport Festival returns to the historic Winter Gardens.

Following the success of the 2025 edition, which welcomed over 1,400 athletes from 58 nations, participation in 2026 is expected to surpass last year’s numbers, making this the largest Festival in its history and reinforcing its position as a leading event on the international DanceSport calendar.

TWO ICONIC HALLS HOSTING WORLD-CLASS COMPETITION
Competitions will take place simultaneously in the Empress Ballroom and Spanish Hall, two of Blackpool’s most prestigious venues. This dual-hall format allows for an expanded competition schedule and creates a high-level environment for both athletes and spectators. Official proceedings begin on 25 March with the WDSF Standard and Latin Adjudicators Congress and the WDSF Open Congress, followed by four days of competition from 26–29 March 2026.

EXPANDED PROGRAMME AND NEW COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES
The 2026 programme features a wide range of WDSF competitions, including the prestigious WDSF GrandSlam, Professional Super Grand Prix, and World Challenge Cup Rising Stars, alongside numerous International Open Standard and Latin events awarding official World Ranking points. New additions for this edition include the Team Match format, Solo Latin Female competitions, and expanded Juvenile and Junior categories. The Festival will also host the WDSF DanceSport Festival Championships in Standard and Latin for Junior II, Youth and Under-21 dancers, further strengthening the development pathway for young athletes.

REGISTRATIONS OPEN AND TICKETS AVAILABLE
Athlete registration is now open via the WDSF Competition Registration System with entries accepted until 10 March 2026 (23:59 GMT). Competitors are encouraged to register early to secure participation. Tickets for the 2026 Festival are available through the official WDSF ticketing platform. With competitions taking place across two halls and a packed programme of world-class performances, early booking is strongly recommended.

A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF DANCESPORT EXCELLENCE
The Festival will be broadcast live for global audiences, with production led by Vivaro Media, an international broadcast partner experienced in delivering coverage for major global events including the Olympic Games. This partnership ensures world-class broadcast standards and global visibility for athletes, partners, and fans.

Commenting on the upcoming edition, WDSF President Shawn Tay said: “The WDSF DanceSport Festival in Blackpool is becoming a symbol of excellence, tradition, and innovation. With an expanded programme and exciting new categories, we continue to support the growth of DanceSport worldwide while honouring its heritage in one of the world’s most historic venues.”

With its enhanced structure, prestigious competitions, and historic setting, the 2026 WDSF DanceSport Festival promises to be a defining moment of the year, uniting the international DanceSport community once again in Blackpool.