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 30 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.

National Championships

Dance Nationals

Dance nationals are the season-ending national championships where regional qualifiers compete for the title. This directory tracks 196 national championship events from 102 competition brands, across 97 host cities in 30 states for the 2027 season — organized by state, city, and brand, and refreshed weekly as brands finalize dates.

196

Nationals events

102

Brands

Host cities

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.

Dance nationals by host city

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

Orlando, FL29 Las Vegas, NV9 Atlantic City, NJ6 Branson, MO6 San Diego, CA6 Hershey, PA5 Austin, TX4 Myrtle Beach, SC4

Mystic, CT4

Ocean City, MD4

Pocono Manor, PA4

Sandusky, OH4 Virginia Beach, VA4 Anaheim, CA3

Panama City, FL3

Pigeon Forge, TN3

Sevierville, TN3

Wisconsin Dells, WI3

Alliston, ON2

Brainerd, MN2

Chicago, IL2 Daytona Beach, FL2

Marlborough, MA2

Mashantucket, CT2

North Charleston, SC2

Ontario, CA2 Phoenix, AZ2 Redondo Beach, CA2

Round Rock, TX2

Topeka, KS2

Woodford, VA2

Benton Harbor, MI1

Biloxi, MS1 Brantford, ON1

Bristol, CT1

Cambridge, MD1

Cape Cod, MA1

Cape May Court House, NJ1

Champion, PA1

ChampionsGate, FL1

Chula Vista, CA1

Cincinnati, OH1

Collingwood, ON1

Dallas, TX1

Destin, FL1

Fallbrook, CA1

Fort Walton Beach, FL1

Foxwoods, CT1

Franklin, NC1

Fredericton, NB1

Ft. Lauderdale, FL1

Galveston, TX1

Gatlinburg, TN1

Groton, CT1

Hampton, VA1

Hot Springs, AR1 Huntsville, ON1 Irvine, CA1 Jacksonville, FL1

Jay, VT1

Jay Peak, VT1

Jersey Shore, NJ1

Lake Buena Vista, FL1

Lake Junaluska, NC1

Lake Tahoe, NV1

Lancaster, PA1

Lawrence, KS1

Ledyard, CT1

Long Branch, NJ1

New York, NY1

Orange Beach, AL1

Ottawa, ON1 Overland Park, KS1

Palm Springs, CA1

Panama City Beach, FL1

Philadelphia, PA1

Pomona, CA1

Rock Hill, SC1 Rockingham, NC1 Sacramento, CA1 San Antonio, TX1

Scottsdale, AZ1

Seaside, OR1

Smithfield, NC1

Sparta, NJ1

Spotsylvania, VA1

St. Charles, MO1

St. Petersburg, FL1

Supply, NC1

Tannersville, PA1

Upland, CA1

Valencia, CA1

Vernon, NJ1

Vestal, NY1

Wildwood, NJ1

Wilmington, DE1

Woburn, MA1

2027 dance nationals schedule

Nov 2026

1 event

Nov 2 - 6, 2026
Fred Astaire
Orlando, FL · Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Details

Feb 2027

1 event

Feb 26 - 28, 2027
Contest of Champions Nationals
Orlando, FL · Universal Orlando Resort
Details

Jun 2027

106 events

Jul 2027

87 events

Aug 2027

1 event

Aug 20 - 21, 2027
America's Clogging Hall of Fame (ACHF)
Lake Junaluska, NC
Details

Dance nationals by brand

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

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 196 national championship events across 102 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 30 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.