Irish Youth Dance Festival 2026

Dublin Youth Dance Company (DYDC) is delighted to announce the return of the Irish Youth Dance Festival (IYDF), taking place on Sunday 5th July 2026 at Smock Alley Theatre.

This year’s festival welcomes participating youth dance groups and artists from across Ireland including OKD Collective and Akasha Dance Company (Waterford), Laois Youth Dance Ensemble, FYI Youth Dance Company (Wicklow), Indian Dance Galway Gati Lasya, Aevum Dance Crew and UMA (Dublin). The festival will also showcase work by emerging dance artists Alice Gavigan (Donegal/Limerick), Sarah Curran (Wicklow), Max Caren (Dublin), and Katie Robb & Niamh Lynch (Belfast/London).

IYDF 2026 is also proud to feature internationally renowned guest artists including Valencia-based contemporary dancer and choreographer Anna Mateu Blasco, a former DYDC member whose multidisciplinary practice combines contemporary dance, physical theatre, acro dance, and circus arts. Joining the programme is Berlin-based choreographer and performer Evgenii Livanskii and his Livanskii Dance Collective, presenting bold and innovative contemporary performance work shaped by his international career across dance, opera, and musical theatre.

Alongside the festival performances, DYDC continues its commitment to artistic development through its annual Summer Dance Residency and International Dance Residency in partnership with Dance Ireland. Irish choreographer Alex O’Neill will lead the Summer Dance Residency creating a new original work with young dancers to be presented at the festival. DYDC is also excited to welcome Spanish choreographer Adrián Herrera, Co-Director of Cia Germen Dance Project, as guest choreographer for the International Dance Residency.

DIRECTED BY Dublin Youth Dance Company
LIGHTING DESIGN BY Gearóid ohAllmhuráin
LIGHTING TECH & OPERATOR Marie Hegarty
COSTUME DESIGN BY DYDC & Artists
SOUND DESIGN BY Jack Hayes