Blackpool: Where Legends Are Made (and Dreams Get Real)

If you’ve been around the dance world for more than five minutes, you’ve heard the name Blackpool Dance Festival—and if you haven’t, well… welcome to the big leagues.

Founded in 1920, Blackpool isn’t just another competition. It’s the competition. The one dancers whisper about, train for, dream about. Sometimes called The Blackpool, Blackpool Festival, or Blackpool Championships, it stands as the oldest and most prestigious dance event on the planet.

And here’s the thing…You don’t just go to Blackpool. You earn your way there.

More Than a Competition… It’s a Feeling

Trying to describe Blackpool is like trying to explain your first standing ovation… you kind of have to feel it.

Think about the prestige of the French Open, the global intensity of the Formula One World Championship, or the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival…

Now mix that with the pure joy and magic of Disneyland.

That’s Blackpool.

It’s where the best dancers in the world step onto the floor—not just to compete—but to become part of history.

The Olympic Stage of Ballroom Dancing

There’s a quote often associated with the Olympic spirit:

“The most important thing is not to win, but to take part.” — Pierre de Coubertin

And nowhere in dance does that ring more true than at Blackpool.

Walking onto that floor is already a victory.

But winning?

That’s a different story.

Winning Blackpool is the equivalent of taking home an Olympic gold medal in our world. It places your name among the greats—forever. It says you didn’t just dance… you arrived.

Eight Days of Pure Dance Energy

Held each May—often called Blackpool May—this festival runs about eight days (and growing).

We’re talking:

• 3,000+ couples

• 60+ countries represented

• Ballroom, Latin, Formation, Rising Stars, and more

What started as a UK-only event has exploded into a true global gathering of the dance world.

And it keeps evolving:

• Rising Star divisions added for emerging talent

• Exhibition events to captivate audiences

• Team matches that bring an entirely different energy to the floor

Blackpool doesn’t just maintain tradition — it builds on it.

Yes… Pro/Am Dancers, You’re In the Game

Here’s something I love sharing…

Blackpool isn’t just for the elite professionals.

Through the Pro/Am division, amateur dancers get their shot to step onto one of the most iconic floors in the world. That means:

• A teacher and student competing together

• Real opportunity to experience the magic firsthand

• One key rule: no switching partners within the same event

It’s simple… but powerful.

Because for many dancers, this is the moment where it all becomes real.

Final Thought

Blackpool isn’t just a destination—it’s a milestone.

It’s where years of practice, sacrifice, and passion meet one unforgettable moment under those lights.

And whether you’re there to win… or simply to walk onto that floor…

You’ll never forget it.

See you on the dance floor… and if you make it to Blackpool—take it all in. That’s history you’re standing on.