‘Thousands attend performances, workshops and family-friendly events across stunning 16-day event’
Leap Dance Festival 2026 has been hailed a huge success with thousands of visitors enjoying the busy 16-day programme of events and activities.
More than 8,500 people attended the acclaimed annual festival which was staged at locations including theatres, cultural venues and outdoor events across Liverpool and beyond – an 8% rise on the figure in 2024 when a similar number of events were held and a huge 83% higher than last year’s more intimate festival.
And 625 performers, including 296 young people, were involved in the festival which saw 11 new commissioned festival dance works, with four Culture Liverpool commissions premiered.
Leap’s prestigious Dance Prize – part of its commitment to developing up and coming talent – was awarded to Zara Phillips and Natassa Argyropoulou for their piece which explores dance as a universal act of celebration. Argyropoulou performed the solo work, fusing traditional Greek dance forms and music with contemporary movement language.
Meanwhile a new community dance film produced by Chaos Arts CIC is set to be released next month.
The film, choreographed by Taciturn (Jennie Hale and Jen Rees) and with music by Chris Davies and videography by Anna Levin, features 25 participants who responded to a special call-out. Two public workshops were held, at Sefton Park Palm House and Shakespeare North Playhouse, before the shoot on location in Prescot.
Highlights of the 2026 festival also included Dancing at the Palm House in Sefton Park, which featured 140 performers of all ages; Queer Moves – featuring the premiere of two exciting new Leap commissions from LBBTQIA+ artists including Queer Dancehall, which saw couples perform Ballroom at the Unity Theatre and Dancing in the Streets at Liverpool ONE; Touissant to Move and Dawn Holgate at the Unity and the Shakespeare North Takeover at Prescot.
Leap Dance Festival is organised and presented by Chaos Arts CIC and is Liverpool City Region’s leading dance event, showcasing the work of local artists, community groups and young people as well as bringing some of the most exciting and groundbreaking work from national and international dance organisations to the city.
Leap Dance Festival Director Paul Doyle said today: “It’s been another fantastic Leap Dance Festival, and I’d like to thank the many people who were involved in making the 2026 event such a success.
“We were also delighted to extend our reach to Knowsley this year, engaging with audiences at Shakespeare North Playhouse during our takeover event, as well as shooting our upcoming film with participants in Prescot. The community film project, which was shot with the generous support of Arts Council England, explores how carrying and holding shape the female experience and is due to be released in mid-June.”
“And finally, huge congratulations to Zara and Natassa who won the Leap Dance Prize bursary – we can’t wait to see what they do next.”
Visit www.leapfestival.co.uk to view our new films and highlights from this year’s festival, and to discover how you can engage with dance in Liverpool City Region all year round.
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