The Queensboro Dance Festival returns with its summer tour of nearly 40 free outdoor dance events May 30 through August 15, this year featuring World Cup watch parties, 21 Queens-based dance companies, and a pre-season dance competition — Dancing with the Queens Stars gala — to launch the season.

The May 30 tour opening event will run 3-7:30 pm and take place in Jackson Heights, starting at 93rd St. Plaza and traveling down to 89th St. Plaza along 34th Ave., culminating at the adjacent Travers Park. All 21 dance companies will be presented at the opening event among scheduled performances and dance classes. The tour continues with events every weekend across public parks, plazas, and streets in Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Ridgewood, Bayside, Corona, Flushing, St. Albans, and Far Rockaway.

The 2026 Queensboro Dance Festival tour also added two new locations this year at Astoria Pool and Frank D. O’Connor Playground in Elmhurst.

The Dancing with the Queens Stars gala will be May 21 at MoMA PS1 from 6-9 pm, featuring a dance competition of Queens leaders who trained with QDF dancers to perform for a panel of local judges.

“This year is particularly thrilling for us,” says Karesia Batan, Queensboro Dance Festival founding executive director. “We continue to grow as a community of Queens artists, and we’re also expanding our audience reach with our watch parties. Sports and culture go hand in hand, and we’re proud to demonstrate this through our dance programming this summer!”

“Queensboro Dance Festival is a unique, valuable outlet that champions the hidden cultural gems and uplifts the many exciting destinations in Queens on their tour, contributing to local economic development through the arts,” says Ben Guttmann, executive director of Queens Economic Development Corporation, which is a QDF partner and will be collaborating on World Cup events this summer.

For more information and the full schedule, visit www.queensborodancefestival.org.

 

The May 30 tour opening event will run 3-7:30 pm and take place in Jackson Heights, starting at 93rd St. Plaza and traveling down to 89th St. Plaza along 34th Ave., culminating at the adjacent Travers Park. All 21 dance companies will be presented at the opening event among scheduled performances and dance classes.