Blackpool Dance Festival 2026: 24 dazzling pictures as Strictly stars Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu open event

Kids and adults got to learn a few steps, and dance along with Strictly Come Dancing professionals at a free community workshop, which kicked off the 100th Blackpool Dance Festival.

The event offered Fylde coast residents a rare opportunity to experience the spectacle, prestige and global significance of the Festival first-hand.

As part of this landmark centenary celebration, audiences were treated to a special showcase from Strictly Come Dancing stars Amy Dowden MBE and Carlos Gu, alongside performances from youth, amateur and professional dancers, highlighting the extraordinary skill and artistry of Ballroom and Latin dance.

Natalie Hayes, Festival Organiser, said: “This is a rare chance for our local community to step onto the world’s most famous dance floor and experience the magic of the Blackpool Dance Festival first-hand. In our centenary year, it’s incredibly important to us that we share this moment with the people of Blackpool and the Fylde coast.”

This centenary edition is expected to draw around 25,000 visitors and deliver a major boost to Blackpool’s tourism economy.

Take a look through our gallery below.