Across one vibrant weekend at the Royal Concert Hall, Applause Youth Dance Festival (AYDF) 2026 brought 23 youth dance groups from across the region onto one stage, each with their own rhythm, story and perspective.

AYDF unfolded as more than a performance platform. It became a full weekend experience where performances, workshops and a buzzing marketplace combined to create space for young people not just to show their work, but to connect, learn and imagine what comes next.

On stage, the programme offered a rich and layered snapshot of youth dance in the Midlands today. Groups travelled from across the East and West Midlands, representing schools, colleges, youth companies and community settings. Hip Hop met contemporary, South Asian styles met Afro-fusion, each piece contributing to a wider picture of a region alive with creativity, identity and experimentation.

Off stage, the energy continued. Workshops invited dancers to step into new styles, build skills and work alongside artists from across the sector. The marketplace opened up conversations around training, progression and careers, placing young people in direct dialogue with organisations shaping the future of dance.

From this collective showcase, we’re proud to announce the six groups who will now be considered by a national panel for an opportunity to attend U.Dance National Festival 2026:

• Dance Development Project (East Midlands)
• Next Door Dance (East Midlands)
• Northampton School Dance Academy (East Midlands)
• Our Lady & St Chad’s Catholic School (West Midlands)
• Afrocave (West Midlands)
• Linden Youth Dance Company (West Midlands)

These six groups reflect the strength of work shared across the weekend but they are part of something bigger. All 23 groups contributed to a powerful, collective moment for youth dance in the Midlands.

Thank you to the dancers, leaders and supporters who shaped Applause 2026. It’s your commitment, creativity and shared energy that make this platform what it is and keep the region’s youth dance scene moving forward.

This years U.Dance National Festival will be held on 3 – 5 July in Glasgow.

Check out the 2025 festival highlights: