Last week Creative Fellowship was approached by our long-time supporter – a former principal dancer of a major state ballet company, now working closely with young professionals. The request was precise. He was not looking for the obvious global giants in the ballet competition circuit. He wanted to know which reputable events, with credible juries and serious standards, still had approaching deadlines.

It was a practical inquiry. But it arrived at exactly the right moment of the year – spring creates the window for thoughtful planning.

If you’re pondering this path for the first time, spring is the moment to sit down with your supporting team and begin outlining what the coming year should look like. Summer then becomes a phase of deliberate refinement. Variations are no longer just practised, they are constructed with intention. Transitions are cleaned and made coherent. Strength is developed methodically. Coaching shifts from broad guidance to targeted correction. A competition, if selected, is woven into the overall structure of the year rather than added on impulse.

Early thinking allows to design the year so that it strengthens a young dancer across all dimensions of their work — technique, artistry, and professional positioning. If competitions are included, they should support that framework. If the contests are excluded, that decision should be just as deliberate.

What ultimately matters is not whether you appear on a competition stage, but whether the year moves you forward. In twelve months’ time, you should be able to see measurable growth – in clarity, consistency, and direction.

Ballet competitions can be a great choice as you strategize your transition into a professional career – from catching the eye of different companies to networking and laying the groundwork for future professional relationships. A powerful tool, yes – but not the only one.

For older dance students, these platforms can mean scholarships to prestigious schools, prize money, or even job prospects.

Such events were once primarily aimed at young professionals, serving as a way to raise their international profile. Even today, Varna maintains its “senior” division at 20–25 and “junior” at 15–19. Although this structure is gradually shifting, the competitive circuit is reshaping the way dancers audition for companies. Rather than attending multiple auditions — often at significant financial expense – major international contests are now used by company directors to identify and recruit new talent.

Participants get to work with some amazing teachers in masterclasses and receive helpful feedback from professionals who have seen a great deal and can offer thoughtful words of guidance as judges. At the same time, ballet competitions aren’t for everyone.

Like anything else involving high pressure and exceptional levels of competition, you can become overwhelmed emotionally, financially, and physically. If you know your emotional capacity isn’t at its best, or you’re feeling burned out, there’s no shame in staying on the sidelines. Make sure you’re in this for the right reasons.

Competitions come at no small cost: registration fees, custom-made tutus, choreographers’ fees, travel costs, private coaching – all of it adds up quickly. Make certain you are able to spend this money, and that this is truly where it’s best spent.

But if you are clear on your goals, in good physical health, and have the time, finances, and support of your training team, competitions have the potential to improve your technique and artistry, elevate your career, and make you a more consistent dancer over the year.

Scale also needs to be considered honestly. A well-chosen mid-sized competition that allows you to perform confidently across rounds is often more constructive than a prestigious platform entered prematurely. Entering a major legacy event such as the USA International Ballet Competition without having built the strength required for several demanding rounds – and without months of sustained preparation – is rarely a wise move. The same applies to other large platforms with heavy repertoire expectations. Prestige does not make up for a lack of preparation.

While competitions offer a platform to perform, there are numerous other ways to gain valuable exposure. By concentrating on versatility and overall development, you can become a more attractive candidate for professional opportunities. Focusing on individualized training and seeking diverse performance and learning opportunities can lead to a more balanced, sustainable, and fulfilling journey in dance.

The journey toward a long career in dance should be as individual as the dancer themselves, shaped by personal aspirations, health, and artistic voice.

Suggested Competitions

Istanbul International Ballet Competition — 7th Edition
  • Application (video selection) deadline:1 May 2026
  • Event dates:27 May – 2 June 2026
  • Location:Istanbul, Turkey
  • Organised by the General Directorate of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet
  • Full participation requirements and official announcements are published on the official platform
    🔗https://www.istanbulballetcompetition.gov.tr/en/basvuru
International Ballet Competition Belgium
  • Application deadline:10 April 2026 (midnight)
  • Event dates:30 April – 3 May 2026
  • Location:Soignies, Belgium
  • Registration fee:€110 per solo / variation
    🔗 https://www.ibcb.be/en/registration/
World Ballet Grand Prix Norway
  • Location:Hamar Kulturhus, Hamar, Norway
  • Registrations open:1 March 2026
  • Deadline:1 June 2026
  • Entry fee:€250 for first entry (includes masterclasses and gala preparation)
  • Categories include classical/neo-classical, contemporary, pas de deux, and group works
    🔗https://wbgpnorway.com/registration/

Less Stressful / Development-Oriented Options

International Dance Competition Città di Spoleto
  • Registration deadline:27 April 2026
  • Event dates:28 April – 2 May 2026
  • Location:Teatro Nuovo Gian Carlo Menotti, Spoleto
  • Fees:
Prix d’Europe France
  • Registration period:5 March – 30 June 2026
  • Event dates:10–11 July 2026
  • Location:La Scala Paris, 13 Bd de Strasbourg
  • Registration via email or official website (launches 5 March at 14:00 UTC+1)
    📧contact@prixdeurope.com
    📞 09 55 81 33 74
    🔗 https://prixdeurope.com
Concours International de Danse de Cannes Croisette
Bologna Ballet Competition

The “Giants”

Budapest Ballet Grand Prix
Helsinki International Ballet Competition
International Ballet Competition Varna