Congratulations to the 2026 YoungArts Dance Winners!

24 November 2025

Congratulations to the 2026 YoungArts Dance Winners!

Today, November 24, YoungArts announced the winners of its 2026 National Competition. The annual award, which recognizes high-achieving artists ages 15–18 (or in grades 10–12) in the U.S., spans across genres like voice, film, theater, and, of course, dance. Each winner receives a cash prize of $250 (or, for YoungArts winners with distinction, $10,000), along with access to a private networking portal, YoungArts Post.

This year saw a record number of applicants, with nearly 13,000 in total across genres. Each award winner was selected through a competitive application reviewed by a panel of professionals. According to a YoungArts press release: “All YoungArts winners have demonstrated exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry, and an extraordinary commitment to developing their craft.” For this year’s winners with distinction, the award also comes with the chance to participate in National YoungArts Week (January 4–11 in Miami, Florida), where they’ll work with exciting guest artists like choreographer Camille A. Brown, who herself was a YoungArts award winner in 1997.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, and especially to our fellow dancers! This year’s winners of distinction in dance are: