Get ready to move! A free community festival is bringing together the incredible dance, cultures, artists and organizations that make up Central Texas.
Day of Dance 2026 brings free dance celebration to Austin
Day of Dance 2026 takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, inviting everyone from lifelong dancers to complete beginners to experience a full day of performances, free classes and community.
Allyson Morales, Elaina Vega and Grandmaster Bass Monster joined Sierra Waggoner on We Are Austin with a special preview of the festival — and even brought a few moves to teach in the studio.
Allyson Morales, Elaina Vega and Grandmaster Bass Monster joined Sierra Waggoner on We Are Austin with a special preview of the festival — and even brought a few moves to teach in the studio.
More than 36 performance groups will take the stage throughout Day of Dance, showcasing a wide range of dance forms and cultures.
Audiences can experience everything from tap, ballet and hip-hop to aerial dance, Bharatanatyam, Indigenous dance and more. Students from Austin ISD and Leander ISD will also perform alongside local and professional dance companies.
But this isn’t a festival where you have to stay in your seat.
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Day of Dance will offer 22 free dance classes, giving attendees plenty of opportunities to get up and try something new.
Classes are designed for a variety of ages, abilities and experience levels, from some of the festival’s tiniest dancers to adults who want to keep moving throughout their lives.
Day of Dance 2026 brings free dance celebration to Austin
Power for Parkinson’s will also lead a class designed to welcome participants with mobility considerations.
At the heart of the festival is a mission to broaden the idea of who belongs in the dance world.
There’s no need for special dance shoes, previous training, a certain body type or even the confidence to call yourself a dancer. Visitors can take a class, watch performances, bring the kids or discover a style of dance they’ve never experienced before.
There’s no need for special dance shoes, previous training, a certain body type or even the confidence to call yourself a dancer. Visitors can take a class, watch performances, bring the kids or discover a style of dance they’ve never experienced before.
And anyone feeling especially adventurous can join the flash mob!
A full video tutorial is available online so participants can learn the choreography ahead of time and bring along friends, family members, coworkers, classmates or an entire dance studio.
There’s no need for special dance shoes, previous training, a certain body type or even the confidence to call yourself a dancer. Visitors can take a class, watch performances, bring the kids or discover a style of dance they’ve never experienced before.
Didn’t practice beforehand? That’s okay, too. Attendees will have another opportunity to learn the dance during the festival before joining the group performance at the end of the day.
Ultimately, Day of Dance is about more than learning choreography. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the cultures and artists already making Central Texas move while reminding the community that dance can belong to everyone.
Day of Dance 2026 takes place Saturday, Sept. 12. The festival is free and open to the community.
Day of Dance 2026 brings free dance celebration to Austin
For more information about Day of Dance, including the full performance and class schedule and flash mob tutorial, visit the event online.
For more information about Day of Dance, including the full performance and class schedule and flash mob tutorial, visit the event online.