Rogers Centre – We’re Back!

Ottawa, ON, Canada
July 3 – 9th, 2026

Our BIGGEST Competition of the Season!

Get Ready for the Return of the Canadian National Finals!

We’re thrilled to announce the return of our Candance Canadian National Finals in the beautiful city of Ottawa, ON, Canada. This week-long national dance event is designed to inspire, challenge, and celebrate dancers at every stage of their journey.

Join us for an unforgettable week filled with:

  • The Performing Arts Competition

  • The Title Soloist Competition

  • World-Class Convention Classes

  • The exciting Dance-Off

  • A glamorous Red Carpet Gala event, featuring special guest performances and our season’s final awards presentation

Our Nationals-level convention classes are tailored to help dancers reach their full potential, making this a must-attend experience for every competitive studio.

Explore everything you need to prepare for Nationals below, including Rules & Regulations, Required Forms, Event Schedules, and options to purchase Official Candance Wristbands, Gala tickets, and class passes—all in one place.

Looking for the latest champions or contest highlights? Visit our new Candance Champions page under the Results section to see recent winners and updates.

All-New: $40,000 in Cash Awards at Candance Nationals 2026!

The Candance National Finals 2026 are set to be our biggest celebration yet as we mark 40 incredible years of dance excellence.

This milestone season brings an unprecedented $40,000 in cash awards, making the 2026 Nationals a must-attend event for studios and dancers across Canada.

Join us for a week filled with:

Exciting new surprises and fresh ideas

Unforgettable performances and competitions

A celebration of four decades of dance passion and achievement

Mark your calendars, secure your spot, and make history at the Candance 40th Anniversary National Finals. This is one season you won’t want to miss!

Forms & Registration

Ready for our incredible National Finals event? It’s time to join hundreds of other talented dancers on our special stage! Here you will find everything you need to get started. Including our Dancer Release Form to be completed and mailed back to Candance headquarters, and the direct link to our Official Registration Page where you can create an account and login to begin the registration process. It’s that simple.

Still have questions? We’re happy to help!

Contact Us

Schedule of Events

Here you will find detailed information about our daily events!
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.

Title Soloist Contestants Rehearsals, Audition Classes, and Interviews

Introductory Day! All contestants will be introduced in a group setting and receive their official Title Soloist Package!

Following the introductory meeting, we will host a series of Audition Classes to be used in addition to your performance score to determine our Title Soloist Champions! All Title Solo contestants must participate in a live interview, filmed for use on the big screen on Competition day! How exciting!

Performing Arts Competition & Convention Classes

Throughout the week we will host a series of incredible Convention Classes taught by legends of dance from the industry. We have a number of ballrooms available for these classes and a very accommodating schedule, so don’t miss out! If you’re not in one of our popular convention classes, you might find yourself on our BIGGEST STAGE of the season during our annual Performing Arts Competition! Located in the main ballroom and fully loaded with professional lights, audio and one INCREDIBLE stage where we will host our main events throughout the entire National Finals competition. We can’t wait to share what we have planned for this season!

Title Soloist Competition

Undoubtedly one of our most highly anticipated events of the season, the annual Candance Title Soloist Competition is an experience not to be missed by any soloist. Thousands of dancers have crossed our stage just in the last few years but only a few have come out victorious. Each season eight incredibly lucky contestants will have the opportunity to call themselves the Title Soloist Champion for our upcoming tour, representing their studio as the reigning champion for the entire next season of dance. For more information on what you need to get started, visit our Title Soloist Competition domain and register today!

Novice/Pre-Competitive Dance Off

All-New and ALL THE EXCITEMENT will be returning to our stage! Join Us this season if you missed out last year!!

The Dance Off & The Gala

Our National Finals Dance Off is an event only to be experienced in person with your own eyes!  Join us as we see some of North America’s finest talent battle for our BIGGEST AWARDS of the year in what is expected to be one of the most spectacular events of the season.  Shortly after the Dance Off event, we transform the entire ballroom into one of the most magical dinner settings you’ve ever had the chance to be part of.  All leading the way to our annual Awards Ceremony where we will give out some of our most prestigious awards and biggest cash prizes to the newly crowned champions of the season!  Book your tickets well in advance, seats tend to go fast!

Convention Classes

The National Finals Convention is an exciting week of classes available to all dancers featuring special celebrity guests and our National Finals judge’s panel. Classes will be available from 8 am to 9 pm and we will offer classes in all dance genres. The National Finals Convention will be held throughout the entire week and features our judges, special guests, and celebrity choreographers. The official faculty will be released prior to the National Finals… We hope to see you all there! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn and expand as a dancer with hundreds of others from all across North America

Follow along on social media as we release all of these exciting details in the coming months! Instagram: @candancecompetiton

CANDANCE CONVENTION PRICING:

  • Classes are Not Mandatory

Unlimited Class Card (Junior & Senior) – $300.00+tx
Single Class Card (Junior & Senior) – $50.00+tx
Unlimited Observer Bracelet (Junior & Senior) – $50.00+tx
Single Day Card (Non-Competitors) – $150.00+tx
Non-Registered Teacher’s (Unlimited Bracelet) – $220.00+tx

Title Soloist Competition

Your moment awaits!

Compete for the Coveted Title of Candance Title Soloist!

Are you ready to take the spotlight? The Candance Title Soloist Competition is your chance to compete against the top solo dancers from across Canada and the USA in one of our most prestigious dance events of the season.

To qualify, soloists must place at a regional Candance dance competition and register by June 1st. Finalists will go head-to-head at our National Finals in four competitive divisions: Mini, Junior, Teen, and Senior.

Winners will be crowned Ms. & Mr. Candance and hold the title for the entire season—earning national recognition and joining an elite circle of titleholders.

*Limited spots available! Don’t miss this exclusive solo dance competition.
*Register today and take your place among the best solo dancers in North America!

Be Part of the Spotlight at the Title Soloist Competition!

Step into the spotlight during our Title Soloist Competition at the Candance National Finals! This unforgettable experience brings together all regional title winners to perform in our exclusive Opening Number — a feature performance only available at Candance Nationals.

What’s Included in the Title Soloist Experience

  • Scholarships and Cash Awards presented to top performers

  • Audition classes in ballet, tap, jazz, acro, and modern — counting toward a percentage of the final score

  • A multimedia presentation showcasing each contestant before they perform

  • Open invitation for all regional Title winners and runner-ups to attend the National Finals

  • Mandatory performance in the Opening Number during Title Day and the Gala

Note: Junior, Teen, and Senior contestants must participate in at least 3 of 5 audition classes. Audition scores account for 60% of the final score.

Important Title Soloist Requirements

  • Entries must be submitted by your studio director or teacher only

  • Registration deadline: June 1st — no late entries will be accepted

  • Submit music and headshots online at title.candancecompetition.ca following your regional placement

Headshot Submission Guidelines

All contestants must upload a full-colour digital headshot (minimum 1920px x 1080px, with extra space around the subject) by June 1st.
Failure to meet these specifications may result in your photo not appearing in the National Finals program or in the Title Soloist Competition introductory video.

Contestants will perform the solo that they won with at the regional level, in a costume, and may not exceed the normal solo time limit of 3 minutes. Title soloist contestants will not be allowed to rehearse their solos on the stage. Dancers may perform another solo in the regular Performing Arts Competition but it must be a different solo and different style.

Dancers must hand in a back-up copy of your music at the first meeting. Your video interview will introduce you and give you time to enter the stage or place props. You must let a backstage manager know if you have a prop and where it must be placed on stage. There will be NO parents allowed back stage during this evening.

Opening Number Attire: All dancers will be given a Candance t-shirt. Female dancers should have black dance shorts and male dancers should have black dress pants.

There will be multiple rehearsals for the opening number and you may be asked to perform barefoot. This routine will be performed at The Gala and therefore opening number is mandatory for all contests of the Title Soloist Competition.

All title soloist contestants are required to record a 20 second introduction of themselves and their routine; this recording will be broadcast prior to their performance on the day of the Title Soloist Competition. 

Video Interview Attire: All dancers are required to wear semi-formal attire for the recording of their interview; bright and colourful attire is strongly recommended (*No Green*)

*Candance reserves the right to reduce the length of any interview that exceeds the average recommended recording length without notice.

All dancers are required to participate in the BALLET audition class; dancers will then be asked to choose a minimum of 2 out of the 4 remaining audition classes: tap, jazz, modern/contemporary, and acro. It is recommended that contestants participate in ALL audition classes available.

Contestants will be adjudicated by three of our National Finals through a choreographed combination. Dancers will be given two performances where judges will look at performance, technique, style, and the ability to follow direction and learn choreography.

Audition Class Attire: All dancers are required to wear plain black dance attire; is is required that all attire is plain with absolutely no rhinestones, colours, lace, etc.

NOTE: For ballet audition classes, females must wear a black bodysuit and pink tights; males must wear black dress pants or shorts and a black or white t-shirt.

The Gala

A Magical Evening

This is a semi-formal event and is a wonderful conclusion to our exciting week at our National Finals! A fabulous evening for dancers, teachers, parents, and loved ones to join together and celebrate all our accomplishments. Hosted by yours truly, the Gala includes a number of spectacular performances, ranging from our special guests to performances by our title contestants and winners! Truly an evening for all to enjoy, and not to be missed.

All Overall Awards and Cash Scholarships will be awarded at the Gala. Studios will be assigned tables for the Gala which will include a full Gala dinner. Please keep in mind, that tickets will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis, as we do have a limited number of tables in the Gala hall. We strongly advise purchasing Gala tickets prior to the National Finals event to ensure that your studio will be seated together. The deadline for all Gala tickets, award tickets, and workshop bracelets is JUNE 1ST  

The remaining tickets may be purchased after this date. You will not be guaranteed seats with your studio, however, we will try our best to accommodate everyone. 

Purchase your Gala tickets below!

Dinner / Awards Ceremony

Children 12 & Under: $95.00+tx CAD
Adults and Children 13 & Over: $148.00+tx CAD

Awards Ceremony

(No Dinner – Observer only)
All Ages: $60.00+tx CAD

***Note: Everyone needs a ticket for The Gala (including ALL dancers) // Tickets are limited for the event.