NEWS
U.Dance National Festival 2026 line up confirmed as it makes it's Scottish debut!
Over 400 young dancers are set to head to Glasgow for the first time for U.Dance - the National Youth Dance Festival!
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Glasgow will host the UK's largest youth dance festival for the first time this July, as over 400 young performers and their teachers travel to the city for U.Dance - the National Youth Dance Festival, run by industry support organisation, One Dance UK.
Now in its 18th year, the U.Dance National Festival is the flagship event in the UK's youth dance calendar, showcasing some of the country's best young dance talent and offering hundreds of participants, the chance to take workshops and masterclasses.
Taking place in Glasgow from 3 - 5 July 2026, the event sees support from arts organisations in the region, including Scottish Ballet, Tramway, The Work Room and YDance. Among the 20+ performing groups are a large contingent from Scotland who were selected from thousands of young dancers nationwide. They alongside others will come together on Friday for a celebration of Scottish dance.
Head of Children of Young People’s Dance at One Dance UK, Laura Nicholson, says:
“We’re incredibly excited to visit Glasgow with the U.Dance National Festival this year, and we are delighted to welcome a breadth of young talent from across Scotland and all around the UK to the stage to perform. It’s more important than ever for us to support these amazing young dancers, who will go on to form - and transform! - the dance world
of tomorrow. The talent, commitment, and creativity of the groups participating in the festival is truly inspiring - we can’t wait to see them take to the stage and shine!”
FRIDAY OPENING CEREMONY
On Friday 3 July, the Opening Night U.Dance National Showcase will celebrate incredible dance talent from across Scotland! Guest groups including the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland, Move Orkney, Abhinaya Dance, right2dance and inclusive dance specialists Indepen-dance will perform, alongside a presentation from the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland, sharing the rich history of Scottish dance and music with audiences.
Alongside doing a traditional ceilidh, bringing together dancers from across the UK, the participants will also take workshops with leading Scottish professional dancers from Scottish Ballet and experts in hip hop, musical theatre and contemporary styles.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY NATIONAL SHOWCASES
Scotland: Scottish Ballet Youth Exchange
West Midland: Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy
Northern Ireland/Ireland: CNYouth Ballet Company
South East: Harshita K.
Isle of Man: Mannin Youth Dance Company
Yorkshire: Phoenix Seniors
North East: Gosforth Civic Theatre Youth
West Midlands: Linden Youth
Scotland: Theiyā Arts Youth Dance Group
South West: Hampshire Youth Dance Company
East Midlands: Inspire Youth Arts Dance Development Project
North West: Chameleon Youth
Yorkshire: CHARGE Boys
Scotland: Revolution Youth Dance Company
South West: FuzzyLogic Male Youth Dance Company
West Midlands: Afrocave Dance
Scotland: Horizons
London: ELYDC - East London Youth Dance Company
Northern Ireland/Ireland: High Points Youth Ballet
East: 28 Dance Company
Yorkshire: Fuego
Scotland: Hamilton Moir Dance