World Para Dance sport has announced a total of nine competitions for the 2026 season, including the 2026 European Championships, new events for junior dancers and spots on the programme of two multi-sport Games for the first time. 

The calendar is designed to continue to raise the reach and profile of the sport and provide increased competition opportunities for dancers around the world, as well as make hosting more accessible to more organisers. 

The season will kick-off in the traditional stop of Amstelveen, The Netherlands, from 3-5 April where the first of five International Competitions will be hosted. 

Para dance sport will then make its World Abilitysport Games debut in Mersin, Türkiye, as part of the Youth Games from 18 June. Here, the first Para Dance Sport Junior World Cup will take place for dancers aged between 15 and 21. 

Competitions for junior dancers are a particular focus for the sport as it aims to encourage the next generation to compete at the highest levels. 

To help cement that development, an International Competition will also take place from 19-20 June as part of the World Abilitysport Youth Games. 

The summer continues with a return to the USA for an International Competition in Detroit from 25-26 July. 

Then Para dance sport will feature at the first ever World Abilitysport Guttmann Games in Lahti, Finland, from 19-20 August. The innovative Guttmann Games concept aims to give a platform to sports not currently on the Paralympic programme. Dancers will get the chance to compete for world ranking points at an International Competition. 

Harry Cootes, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the sport’s governing body, World Abilitysport, said:  

“We are pleased to announce a comprehensive competition calendar and to confirm that Para Dance Sport will feature in two World Abilitysport Games formats in 2026. This decision reflects the valuable feedback received during the Congress last year, including the importance of creating more opportunities for the development and progression of younger athletes. 

Our aim remains to grow the sport, ensure it is accessible to as many dancers as possible, and provide meaningful platforms for the next generation to showcase their talent. At the same time, we continue to focus on making it easier for Members and National Federations to host events and contribute to the sport’s sustainable development. 

We look forward with great anticipation to the season ahead and would like to thank all organisers for their continued commitment to our shared mission.” 

Following on from the World Championships in Kosice, Slovakia, in 2025 and many previous competitions, the city will also stage a World Cup from 4-6 September. 

Two International Competitions will then provide a great preview for November’s European Championships. Lomianki, Poland, will host from 2-4 October and Cancun, Mexico, from 23-26 October. Mexico will host for the first time in the wake of impressive performances at the World Championships, including gold for Michell Jade Olvera Sumano and Carlos Derik Olvera Sumano in the combi freestyle class 2 and a series of silver and bronze medals across couples and individual events. 

From 18-23 November, Oristano, Italy will stage the 2026 Para Dance Sport European Championships. In both Oristano and Lomianki, medal events for dancers with vision impairments will feature alongside those for physical impairments, following-on from developments announced in previous seasons. 

The full competition calendar for 2026 can be viewed at paradancesport.org.