More than 10,000 dancers representing 150 dance organizations and more than 100 dance styles will take over Manhattan streets Saturday for the 20th Annual Dance Parade and Festival, a milestone event organizers call the world’s largest and most diverse dance celebration.
The all-day event begins with an 11:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony at West 17th Street and Sixth Avenue, followed by the parade step-off at noon. The celebration concludes with DanceFest, a free public festival in Tompkins Square Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
This year’s grand marshals include dance pioneer Joan Myers Brown, house music DJ and producer Timmy Regisford, dance journalist and advocate Christine Jowers, and New Style Hustle creator Jeff Selby.
Under the theme “The Beat Goes On,” organizers say the 2026 parade celebrates two decades of advancing dance culture and defending dance as a First Amendment right.
The parade route will feature a sweeping range of movement traditions, including African, Latin, Asian, and European dance forms alongside urban styles such as voguing, breaking, and house, as well as partner dances including Lindy Hop and salsa. Floats, live music, and large-scale choreography are expected to transform Lower Manhattan into a moving performance space.
Performances and grandstand activities will take place at Astor Place near Fourth Avenue and East Eighth Street, where spectators can view featured dance groups and special appearances throughout the afternoon.
Dance Parade New York organizers say the event also highlights the group’s advocacy efforts over the past two decades, including campaigns that contributed to the repeal of New York City’s Cabaret Law in 2017 and zoning reforms in 2024 aimed at expanding opportunities for dance venues and cultural spaces.
Organizers continue to advocate for the modernization of State Liquor Authority policies through the LegalizeDance.org initiative.
The event is free and open to the public.
