New dance events: January 2026 update

Happy New Year dancers!

We’ve kicked off 2026 by adding and updating 22 dance events across the Stage Lark directory, with organisers around the country releasing dates, opening registrations and announcing key changes for the year ahead.

There’s been a steady roll-out of state-based eisteddfods, and plenty of solos, duos, trios and troupe opportunities being confirmed well in advance. We’re also seeing continued support for scholarships, awards and youth pathways, so make sure you keep scrolling to see if something takes your fancy!

Remember, this is just a snapshot of what’s in the Stage Lark directory – currently, we have well over 200 events listed nationwide, so if you want to keep searching, you can filter and sort all the events here.

If you don’t see your favourite event listed, feel free to share this link with the organiser. It’s free to list events, and we’re always happy to help spread the word.

As always, we aim to keep the directory as up to date as possible, but dates and details can change, so please remember to check directly with event organisers to confirm the latest information.

Below is a state-by-state snapshot of what’s been added recently.

National tours

• Adrenaline Dance Competition – We’ve added Adrenaline’s national tour, with over 10 events scheduled across ACT, NSW, QLD and SA.

New South Wales (NSW)

• Expression Dance Competition will be holding solos, duos and trios on 17 January in Chatswood.
• Extreme Dance Competition have released their Sydney dates. Solos, duos and trios will run from 24 May to 7 June, followed by troupe events from 13–21 June.
• Platinum Dance Competition are running more than 10 events across NSW from April. We’ve updated their listing with the latest details.
• Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) have released NSW dates for the Joan and Monica Halliday Awards and the Isobel Anderson Awards. We’ve updated our RAD listings with an overview of these events.
• St George Dance Eisteddfod have announced the discontinuation of their dance eisteddfod from 2026. They will, however, be offering three classical ballet scholarships valued at $5,000 each. Applications close 30 March.
• Taree Eisteddfod will run from 4–15 May.

Queensland (QLD)

• Dance X Competition will be holding a series of competitions across Queensland from June to September, along with an online competition in September. Dance X has been designed specifically as a platform for Primary and Secondary schools.
• We’ve also added Dream Big Dance Challenge, with solos, duos, trios and group competitions running from May to September across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
• Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod have released two sets of dates for their solos and groups competitions in June and July.
• Rockhampton Dance Festival will take place from 18–25 September.
• Maryborough Eisteddfod have released dates for events in May and August.

South Australia (SA)

• Mount Gambier Eisteddfod will run from 6–12 July, with the Highland Dance event scheduled for 8 August.

Tasmania (TAS)

• Launceston Festival of Dance will run from 1–10 October.

Victoria (VIC)

• Australian Institute of Classical Dance (AICD) – We’ve added the Victorian Senior Classical Ballet Awards, which will take place in June. A reminder that the NSW Awards will launch in May and will be offered alongside the AICD Marilyn Jones Awards, with over $13,000 in cash prizes.
• Energy Dance Competition will be holding two events in Doncaster in July and August.
• Royal South Street, Ballarat will hold their solo and troupe competitions from 15 September to 3 October.
• Spotlight Dance Competitions will be running two troupe events in Doncaster, one in July and one in September.
• Victorian State Youth Ballet will be holding auditions in Bundoora for youth roles in their production of Alice in Wonderland. Auditions are currently scheduled for 15 February.
• Hamilton Eisteddfod will run from 8–14 June.

Western Australia (WA)

• WA Dance Expo have announced two dates for their Mindarie event, with one taking place in April and another in August.

Entries closing over the coming month

• 10 January – International Summer School Summer Dance Intensive (taking place on 12 January)
• 1 February – Triple Turn Dance Experience, Maleny (event held in March)
• 15 February – On Stage Performing Arts Competition, Como (WA)
• 20 February – Talent Tribe, Adelaide (event held in March)