The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) will deliver the world’s elite DanceSport athletes again to Blackpool from 25 to 29 March 2026, because the WDSF DanceSport Festival returns to the historic Winter Gardens.
Following the success of the 2025 version, which welcomed over 1,400 athletes from 58 nations, participation in 2026 is anticipated to surpass final yr’s numbers, making this the most important Festival in its historical past and reinforcing its place as a number one occasion on the worldwide DanceSport calendar.
TWO ICONIC HALLS HOSTING WORLD-CLASS COMPETITION
Competitions will happen concurrently within the Empress Ballroom and Spanish Hall, two of Blackpool’s most prestigious venues. This dual-hall format permits for an expanded competitors schedule and creates a high-level surroundings for each athletes and spectators. Official proceedings start on 25 March with the WDSF Standard and Latin Adjudicators Congress and the WDSF Open Congress, adopted by 4 days of competitors from 26–29 March 2026.
EXPANDED PROGRAMME AND NEW COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES
The 2026 programme options a variety of WDSF competitions, together with the celebrated WDSF GrandSlam, Professional Super Grand Prix, and World Challenge Cup Rising Stars, alongside quite a few International Open Standard and Latin occasions awarding official World Ranking factors. New additions for this version embody the Team Match format, Solo Latin Female competitions, and expanded Juvenile and Junior classes. The Festival can even host the WDSF DanceSport Festival Championships in Standard and Latin for Junior II, Youth and Under-21 dancers, additional strengthening the event pathway for younger athletes.
REGISTRATIONS OPEN AND TICKETS AVAILABLE
Athlete registration is now open by way of the WDSF Competition Registration System with entries accepted till 10 March 2026 (23:59 GMT). Competitors are inspired to register early to safe participation. Tickets for the 2026 Festival can be found via the official WDSF ticketing platform. With competitions going down throughout two halls and a packed programme of world-class performances, early reserving is strongly advisable.
A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF DANCESPORT EXCELLENCE
The Festival can be broadcast reside for international audiences, with manufacturing led by Vivaro Media, a world broadcast accomplice skilled in delivering protection for main international occasions together with the Olympic Games. This partnership ensures world-class broadcast requirements and international visibility for athletes, companions, and followers.
Commenting on the upcoming version, WDSF President Shawn Tay mentioned: “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 construction, prestigious competitions, and historic setting, the 2026 WDSF DanceSport Festival guarantees to be a defining second of the yr, uniting the worldwide DanceSport neighborhood as soon as once more in Blackpool.
