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National Championships

Dance Nationals

Dance nationals are the season-ending national championships where regional qualifiers compete for the title. This directory tracks 105 national championship events from 59 competition brands, across 60 host cities in 23 states for the 2027 season — organized by state, city, and brand, and refreshed weekly as brands finalize dates.

105

Nationals events

59

Brands

60

Host cities

23

States

What are dance nationals?

Across a competition season, touring brands hold regional events and conventions where studios and soloists earn bids, top-score invitations, or automatic advancement. Nationals are where those qualifiers meet: a multi-day national championship, usually in a destination city with a big convention hotel, that crowns the season’s overall winners.

Every major brand runs its own nationals — so “dance nationals” isn’t one event but dozens, each with its own dates, host city, and qualification rules. This page pulls them all into one place so families can compare, plan travel, and find the championship that fits their studio’s circuit.

Dance nationals by state

States hosting national championship events this cycle. Each links to the full competition directory for that state.

Florida dance competitions25California dance competitions13Pennsylvania dance competitions9Nevada dance competitions8New Jersey dance competitions6Texas dance competitions5Ontario dance competitions4South Carolina dance competitions4Connecticut dance competitions3Maryland dance competitions3Missouri dance competitions3North Carolina dance competitions3Ohio dance competitions3Tennessee dance competitions3Arizona dance competitions2Kansas dance competitions2New York dance competitions2Virginia dance competitions2Arkansas dance competitions1Illinois dance competitions1Michigan dance competitions1Oregon dance competitions1Wisconsin dance competitions1

Dance nationals by host city

Cities hosting national championships this cycle. Linked cities have a full local competition guide.

Orlando, FL19Las Vegas, NV7Atlantic City, NJ5Branson, MO3Hershey, PA3
Pocono Manor, PA3
San Diego, CA3Daytona Beach, FL2Myrtle Beach, SC2
Mystic, CT2
Ocean City, MD2
Ontario, CA2Phoenix, AZ2
Sandusky, OH2
Sevierville, TN2Virginia Beach, VA2
Alliston, ON1
Anaheim, CA1Austin, TX1
Benton Harbor, MI1
Brantford, ON1
Cambridge, MD1
Cape May Court House, NJ1
Chicago, IL1
Chula Vista, CA1
Cincinnati, OH1
Collingwood, ON1
Dallas, TX1
Fallbrook, CA1
Fort Walton Beach, FL1
Foxwoods, CT1
Franklin, NC1
Ft. Lauderdale, FL1
Galveston, TX1
Hot Springs, AR1
Irvine, CA1Jacksonville, FL1
Lake Junaluska, NC1
Lake Tahoe, NV1
Lancaster, PA1
Lawrence, KS1
New York, NY1
North Charleston, SC1
Orange County, CA1Ottawa, ON1Philadelphia, PA1
Pigeon Forge, TN1
Pomona, CA1
Rock Hill, SC1
Round Rock, TX1
Sacramento, CA1San Antonio, TX1
Seaside, OR1
Smithfield, NC1
St. Petersburg, FL1
Tannersville, PA1
Topeka, KS1
Upland, CA1
Vestal, NY1
Wisconsin Dells, WI1

2027 dance nationals schedule

Nov 2026

1 event

Feb 2027

1 event

Jun 2027

66 events

Jul 2027

36 events

Aug 2027

1 event

Dance nationals by brand

National championship events by competition brand. Each links to the brand’s full tour schedule and qualification details.

Starbound National Talent Competition9 nationalsFly Dance Competition4 nationalsStarQuest Dance Competition4 nationalsBelieve National Talent Competition3 nationalsBeyond The Stars Dance Competition3 nationalsDance Mania International3 nationalsGroove Dance Competition3 nationalsJourney Dance Competition3 nationalsSharp International3 nationalsSpotlight Dance Cup3 nationalsTremaine Dance3 nationals24 Seven Dance Convention2 nationalsAmerica's Clogging Hall of Fame (ACHF)2 nationalsApplause Talent2 nationalsBreakout Dance Competition2 nationalsCelebrity Dance Competitions2 nationalsDance Out Competition2 nationalsHollywood Dance Jamz2 nationalsInspire Dance Challenge2 nationalsJump Dance Convention2 nationalsNUVO2 nationalsNYCDA (New York City Dance Alliance)2 nationalsSoutheast Showdown Dance Competition2 nationalsThat's Entertainment Performing Arts Competition2 nationalsTriumph National Talent2 nationalsUnited States Tournament of Dance2 nationalsWCTE Dance Competition2 nationalsAll Out Dance Competition1 nationalsBeast Dance Competition1 nationalsBloom Dance Competition1 nationalsCandance Competition1 nationalsContest of Champions Nationals1 nationalsDance Canada Inc.1 nationalsDance Makers, Inc.1 nationalsDancers Inc.1 nationalsDreamMaker1 nationalsDynamic Performance Challenge1 nationalsElevation on Tour1 nationalsEncore Dance Competition For the Stars1 nationalsEncore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc.1 nationalsFred Astaire1 nationalsHEAT Convention & Competition1 nationalsHollywood Connection1 nationalsIgnite Dance Competition1 nationalsIntrigue Dance Intensive1 nationalsKAOS Dance Experience1 nationalsLeague of Champions1 nationalsLeap National Dance Competition1 nationalsNexus Dance Conventions & Competitions1 nationalsPrestige Dance National Tour1 nationalsPrimeTime Dance Competition1 nationalsRADIX Dance Convention1 nationalsRedline Dance Competition1 nationalsReinforce Dance Experience1 nationalsRevel Dance Convention1 nationalsShowbiz Talent1 nationalsThe Artistry Tour1 nationalsUltra Dance Tour1 nationalsWaves Dance Competition1 nationals

Full 2027 calendar

Every dance competition scheduled for 2027, not just nationals.

All dance competitions

Browse and filter every competition by location, date, and style.

2027 Nationals tracker

Our editorial deep-dive on the 2027 finale — by brand, week by week.

Dance nationals FAQ

What are dance nationals?
Dance nationals are the national championship events that close out a competition season. Over the year, regional and convention tours crown qualifiers at each stop; those qualifiers then compete head-to-head at the brand's national finals — typically a multi-day event in a destination city. We track 105 national championship events across 59 brands for the 2027 season.
When do dance nationals happen?
Most dance nationals run late spring through summer (roughly May–August), after the regional season wraps. Each brand sets its own dates and host city; browse the month-by-month timeline above for the 2027 schedule as brands finalize it.
Where are dance nationals held?
Nationals cluster in destination cities with large convention hotels — Orlando, Las Vegas, and similar markets are perennial hosts. This directory groups every national championship by state and by host city so you can plan travel. We track nationals in 23 states this cycle.
How do you qualify for dance nationals?
Qualification is set by each competition brand. Most award national bids, top-score invitations, or automatic advancement to studios and soloists at their regional events. Check the specific brand's tour page for its rules — every brand here links to its full schedule and qualification details.
Are dance nationals the same as a dance convention or a regional competition?
No. A regional competition is a single local/qualifying event; a convention pairs classes with a competition; nationals are the season-ending championship where qualifiers compete. Many brands run all three. Use our full competition and convention directories to see every event type.

Many brands publish national championship dates and host cities late in the season, so this list fills in as they do. We refresh weekly. Always verify dates, location, and qualification rules directly with the competition before registering or booking travel.