Dear Dancer / Dance School,

We would be delighted to welcome you and your school or studio's dancers to the Dance World Cup 2026 World Finals in Dublin, Ireland.

Please note that all dance schools and dancers must first be registered on the DWC entry system and officially qualify before entering the DWC World Finals.

Information about current live country qualifiers is available on our website page at Country Qualifiers 2026

Only if no live qualifier event is scheduled in your country, we invite you to submit a video entry to qualify for the 2026 DWC World Finals.

 

Qualifier & Finals Entry Information:

 

Entry Deadlines:

  • All video entries must be submitted by 1 March 2026, unless a later deadline has been agreed directly with DWC-approved dance schools.

  • Ensure all submissions and payments are made on time to avoid disappointment or disqualification.

  • For submission instructions, see the “How & Where to Submit Your Videos” section below.

 

How & Where to Submit Your Videos

Registering your dance school for the first time (Qualifiers & Finals):

  1. Click on the registration form link [here]
  2. Fill in your school’s details to set up your account.
  3. You’ll receive an email once your account has been confirmed.
  4. Log in with the username and password you've created.
  5. Upload your videos by following the easy steps in the “Entering Your Entries Online” section below.

 

Already have a registered dance school account with DWC:

  1. Go to the login page.
  2. Sign in with your existing school account details.
  3. Upload your videos and music as in previous years by following the steps in the “Entering Your Entries Online” section below.

 

Entering Your Entries Online (Video Qualifier Round):

  1. Log in and go to Competitions.
  2. Click Change/Join Competition and then select the 2026 Video Qualifier tab at the top.
  3. Add your dancers’ names and the title of each entry.
  4. Upload the video for each entry (instead of music).

 

Entry Fees – Video Qualifier round

Once your videos have been uploaded, the Qualifier registration fees will automatically appear on your school’s account. To ensure your entries are confirmed for the Qualifier stage, full payment must be made by the official deadline. Entries will only be confirmed once payment has been received.

 

How to View Your Results

Results will be published on the scheduled date shown on on our web page Country Qualifiers 2026

To view your results:

  1. Log in to your DWC school account.
  2. Click on the Cert. & Results tab in the menu at the top.


If your entry has qualified, it is eligible to be registered for the Finals. To secure your place in the Finals programme, all submissions must be completed and confirmed through your school’s online account before the deadline indicated on our website at Country Qualifiers 2026

Please note: an additional Finals entry registration fee is required. Entries will only be confirmed once full payment has been received and all music uploads are complete. For payment details, visit: DWC Fees 2026.

 

How to Submit Your Finals Entries:

  1. Once submissions open, go to Competitions.
  2. Click Change/Join Competition, then select the 2026 Finals option.
  3. Add all dancers and entries for the Finals.
  4. Upload the music for each entry.

 

Important:

  • Entries without uploaded music and confirmed full payment by the Finals submission deadline may not be guaranteed a place in the Finals programme.

 

Visa Applications & Invitation Letter Requests – DWC Finals

Entrants and supporters who require a visa to enter Ireland should be aware that visa application appointments must be booked well in advance, as processing times can take up to 3 months. We strongly recommend starting the visa application process as early as possible to avoid any issues with attending the Finals.

Unfortunately, DWC cannot, under any circumstances, contact embassies or visa centres to expedite applications.The responsibility for managing the visa process rests solely with the applicant.

If you need an official invitation letter from DWC for your visa application, email dance@dwcworld.com​ with:

  • Full names, dates of birth, and passport numbers of all dancers, teachers, and parents (if applicable)

  • Dance school name and address

We will issue a letter confirming your attendance at the Finals for inclusion with your visa application once all dancers’ entries have been approved and full payment of Qualifier and Finals registration fees has been received.

 

World Video Qualifier Rules & Regulations – 2026

The following requirements are very important to keep in mind when filming your video submissions for qualifications purposes. If your video does not follow these requirements, it may be rejected. There will be no exceptions made.

 

Click here to download the World Video Qualifier Rules & Regulations – 2026

 

General

You should record and upload new videos of your routines.

If this is not possible then videos may be used from other events or competitions as long as they have been recorded on or after 01 January 2025 to coincide with the correct age categories.

  • For new videos, please hold up a piece of paper clearly stating the category (e.g. ‘Mini Small Group – National’) before filming begins.
  • The use of a tripod is strongly recommended to ensure a stable image.
  • Teachers’ voices should not be heard during the recording. Only dancers who are performing should be visible in the recording.
  • Ensure the sound/music is close enough to the camera so that it is clear. Adding the music to the recording afterwards is permitted, however, please ensure it is perfectly synchronised to the dancers’ movements. Poor synchronisation may affect judging.
  • Dancer to wear costume or adequate dance wear with light stage makeup.
  • Videos must be in MPEG-4 (MP4) format and no larger than 500MB, with a minimum 720p resolution.
  • Videos over the time limit will only be adjudicated up to the point where the time limit is allowed.

 

Please note: Music over the time limit will not be accepted for entries for the Finals. If your music is over the time limit, please amend when entering the routine for the finals.

 

  • Videos must be filmed in landscape (horizontal) format with full body view from beginning to the end of the presentation. Please make sure that the dancers’ feet should always be visible.
  • Ensure that facial expressions can be seen. A video filmed in profile, from the side of the stage is not suitable as this does not provide a good view of the dancer and the dancers presentation cannot be seen.
  • Ensure that all dancers in a duet/trio, quartet or group are always visible.
  • For solo and duet/trio routines, zoom in enough so that the dancers are clearly seen, but keeping the full body view of the dancers visible the entire performance.
  • For best results, the recording should be done in a well-lit area so that the dancer’s facial expression, feet, hands, and all movements can be clearly seen. Where possible avoid recording in spaces where background activity or clutter may distract from the performance. A plain or neutral background is preferred.
  • Videos must be one continuous take with no cuts, transitions, or edits. Multiangle edits or visual effects are not allowed.
  • Do not include dance studio logos, watermarks, or text overlays on the video as judges must not be aware of which school the dancer attends.
  • Filming in front of an open window during daylight must be avoided so that there is no shade on the dancer. Lights shining from the back of the dancer must also be avoided

 

If a routine changes once the entry has qualified, then a new video must be sent into DWC to confirm it still fits within the original category and does not include any rule violations or infringements

 

Age Categories

Age category is based on the oldest dancer in the video:

  • Mini: 9 & under
  • Children: 10 - 13
  • Junior: 14 – 17
  • Senior: 18 – 25

 

Age Category Must Match the Dancers in the Video

  • Entries must reflect the age group of the dancers shown in the video.
  • Permitted: A group of dancers all aged 9 and under may be entered in both Mini and Children.
  • Not permitted: A group of dancers aged 12–14 must not be entered as Mini or children, on the basis that you intend to change to younger dancers to perform the routine once qualified.

Please note: All video entries must be entered into the correct class, age category or group size and cannot be changed once qualified.

Routines performed by older dancers reflect greater maturity and must be judged accordingly.

 

Video Re-use/ Group Sizing’s

Video Reuse and Group Size

  • Each video can be submitted in up to two categories, but only if:
  • The age group matches the dancers shown in the video.
  • The group size matches the category entered:
    • Small Group: 4–10 dancers
    • Large Group: 11+ dancers

 

Invalid Video Submission

Entries that do not meet the stated requirements may be requested to re-film subject to time restrictions. If not corrected, they will be considered invalid.

Examples of submissions that cannot be accepted or adjudicated:

  • A video showing more than 10 dancers entered as a Small Group.
  • A Junior group video entered into Mini or Children with a note that a different cast will perform.
  • A duet video submitted as a group, or a group video submitted as a duet or trio

 

Please adhere to the time limits allowed for each dance as per the DWC rules 2025 that can be found on our website at https://dwcworld.com/rules_2025

 

We're here to support you throughout the entire process. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out on email at dance@dwcworld.com

 

We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 Dance World Cup World Finals in Dublin, Ireland!