Wigan Borough Dance Festival 2026: Programme Announced

Wigan Borough Dance Festival announces its vibrant 2026 line-up, bringing together schools,  youth groups, local dance schools and arts organisations from across the borough to celebrate  dance. Taking place annually each March, the festival is one of the biggest celebrations of dance  for children and young people, granting them the opportunity to perform on a professional  stage. Participants range from primary school pupils performing for the first time, to  experienced youth dance groups, college students and even professional dancers, creating a  diverse range of performance styles. This year, the festival will bring together 1,910 young  people, 95 schools and groups and over 60 artists. 

At its heart, the Wigan Borough Dance Festival is about inclusion. The event is proudly non competitive, focusing instead on encouragement, creativity and pride in performance. By  removing the pressure of competition, the festival allows participants to focus on collaboration,  self-expression and celebrating each other’s achievements. 

The theme for this year’s festival has been unveiled asTogether We Dance, reflecting how  Wigan Borough Dance Festival brings people together across schools, communities and cultures.  As part of this theme, the festival will feature a spectacular carnival-inspired finale, in which the 

hundreds of participating young people will perform together. A key focus for Wigan Borough  Dance Festival 2026 is also encouraging more boys and young men to engage with dance,  challenging stereotypes and making dance more inclusive. 

2026 marks the 9thyear of the festival, taking place at The Edge Arena in Wigan. Led by Spirix  Collective, the festival is committed to helping their young participants build confidence and  develop choreography skills through workshops, rehearsals and creative support. Wigan Borough Dance Festival grants these young people a unique opportunity to dance alongside  professionals, and in turn raising aspirations and inspiring future careers in dance. 

Highlights of the programme include the Wigan Schools Platforms, running Tuesday to Thursday  for primary and secondary schools across the area, and featuring a performance from Collide,  the male-identifying company from Northern School of Contemporary Dance. On Friday, the  festival will host the Greater Manchester Schools Platform, welcoming young dancers from  across Greater Manchester and featuring performances from professional and emerging artists,  including Company Chameleon, Edge Hill University, and Spirix Creatives. The evening will then  be dedicated to showcasing the incredible work happening within local community dance  groups in the Grassroots Community Dance Celebration, with performances from WYZ, More  Than Words, Everything Human Rights, and Spirix Collective. The festival will close with a  fantastic Dance Showcase of all schools and a show-stopping carnival-inspired finale featuring  hundreds of dancers. 

Lead Producer and Founding Director of Spirix Collective Amy Hodgson comments,The Wigan  Borough Dance Festivalhas become a key part of Wigan’s cultural calendar and a real  entitlement for the children and young people of Wigan. Each year, many young people look  forward to their opportunity to be part of the festival, to step onto a professional stage, share  their creativity and feel proud of what they have achieved together. I am incredibly proud of the  Spirix team for achieving what often feels impossible every year. An event of this scale and size is  delivered by a small team of dedicated and passionate artists and producers who work tirelessly  to make sure every young person has their moment on stage 

The Wigan Borough Dance Festival is funded by Arts Council England, Wigan Council and the  Granada Foundation, supporting the continued development of dance opportunities for young  people across the region. 

Main Image: Credit to Wigan Borough Dance Festival

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