The 2026 edition has finished. The organiser has not announced the 2027 dates yet; this page is updated as soon as they are confirmed, and it usually runs in late July.
Going by previous years, expect it around 20 Jul 2027 to 25 Jul 2027.
What to expect, from the 2026 edition
Each July the Bournemouth International Centre swaps conference badges for sequins, tailcoats and the click of Latin heels. The DPA Summer Festival ranks among the standout fixtures of the competitive ballroom and Latin American season, pulling dancers from all corners of the United Kingdom to the seafront for a week-long run of championship dancing. The 2026 edition takes place from Tuesday 21 to Sunday 26 July.
About the festival
Staged by the Dance Promoters' Association in the BIC's Purbeck Hall on Exeter Road, the festival centres on the DPA United Kingdom Closed Championships, held across both ballroom and Latin American styles for a broad sweep of ages and grades, stretching from juveniles to over-60s. With professionals and emerging talent, amateur pairs and teacher-student partnerships all taking part, the standard on the floor stays high throughout.
What to expect
No two days are quite alike. The festival opens with teacher-student events and solo competitions before the main championships and open competitions take over as the week progresses towards the weekend. Sessions run long and full, typically starting early in the morning and continuing through the day, with the finals usually drawing the biggest crowds. One standout moment is Saturday's Dinner and Dance, a formal affair featuring a four-course meal and a live big band, which needs booking separately from day spectator tickets.
Since the running order and finishing times differ day by day, the best places to check exactly when each championship dances are the official BIC listing and the DPA's own programme. Anyone travelling to watch a particular friend, relative or event should check those sources shortly before the date. The broader what's on calendar is also worth a browse for other things happening that same week.
Getting there and tickets
Right on Bournemouth's seafront, the BIC lies just minutes from Bournemouth Pier and the sand at Bournemouth beach. Day tickets for spectators go through the venue's box office, and the Dinner and Dance is booked separately via the association. Since the centre's own multi-storey car park fills up fast during high summer, allowing extra time or travelling by bus or train is sensible; our travel-information page sets out the practicalities. The main railway station in town is only a short taxi or bus journey from the hall.
Make a weekend of it
Being on the seafront, the festival lends itself to building a fuller break around the dancing. Start with a walk through the Lower Gardens, stretching from the town centre down to the pier, then choose from the many restaurants in town for lunch between sessions or dinner once the floor clears. Anyone staying across several days of competition will find a wide choice of hotels within walking distance of the BIC, many well accustomed to the early starts a dance weekend demands. With extra time available, the harbour town of Poole and the wooded chine walks along the coast make for easy additions, rounding a day of championships into a full weekend by the sea.
Dates & times
- 21 to 26 July 2026
