NCDC 2026
The Largest and Most Diverse Heats
The USA Dance National DanceSport Championship features the largest and most diverse heats in the country. It is the only place you can compete against teams from Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Texas, New York, California, and everywhere else! Heats are so large that for the first time we will be running split-floors at Nationals!
Our Legendary Team Match is Better
You know you’re in for a good time when it takes over two-minutes to get hundreds of competitors out of on-deck for the first round. Our unique format combines all styles and all levels in a fun and fair format. New to this year will be invigilators and your favorite dances (per feedback). Don’t forget to tell your spectators to bring their ear plugs!
A Ballroom Makeover
We’ve extensively modified the floorplan. A larger floor (big enough to run two full-sized floors simultaneously), audience on 3 sides, tables in the ballroom for spectators, and more.
Improved Scheduling
Our larger floor will let us run ‘split floors’ for the first time. This will let us get the same amount of dancing done in a shorter time without increasing your flight sizes. That leaves more time for awards, sleep, and other fun activities!
Four Events in One Place!
The USA Dance National Collegiate DanceSport Championships are combined with the USA Dance National Ballroom DanceSport Championships. This lets you compete simultaneously for collegiate and adult titles!
The event is also joined with the National Social Dance Celebration and Professional Dance Summit, providing you with two social dances and over 30 workshops on a wealth of social, competitive, and post-collegiate topics!
The College Package Offers Even More
No hard-entry limit. Dance one level of college events and the same level of adult age category.
You have access to Two Social Dances and Over Thirty Workshops as part of your registration!
Not enough? Earn qualifying status and compete in an additional level of adult age category FREE.
You have the option to pay extra to compete in additional entries. You can enter up to two levels of college events and the same two levels of adult - this is up to twice as much dancing as your typical collegiate competition!
Qualifying is Easier than Ever
We’re always looking to improve the experience for our competitors. Check out some of the improvements we’re making this year!
College students do not need to qualify to participate at the USA Dance Nationals. Qualifying still provides benefits for those who want to take advantage!
Qualifying is per-person, not per couple. Partner switching is welcome!
Qualifying is Streamlined via a Points System
Earn Qualifying Points at Sanctioned USA Dance College Events
Workshops and Camps
We will continue to provide workshops throughout the event for free to college students. You will now have two workshops to choose from at any time during the Saturday Day Session and through Sunday morning. If you wind up with some downtime, be sure to hop into them!
Financial Assistance
If you want to be here, we want you to be here.
Earn National Rankings
Fantastic Awards
Being a National Semi-finalist, Finalist, or Champion always looks good on your resume. Winners of the Team Match receive the USA Dance Collegiate Cup. Top Team Finalists will receive a certificate your team can frame and display on campus. We’ll provide a copy-file so your team members can make a copy to frame themselves!
Return of the new Parity-Formula
Participants receive more points for reaching the final compared to receiving callbacks. This means even smaller teams can compete toe-to-toe with larger teams in the overall rankings category.
Ranking Updates throughout each session
At multiple times throughout the event, we will provide an update on team rankings. Now teams can find out how they’re doing and how close they are to moving up the ladder!
