Your Guide to the Competition
Discover the steps to advance in the All England Dance competition, from participating in the Nominated Festivals to progressing through the Regional Finals, and then ultimately reaching the National Final.
Timeline & Key Dates
1 Apr 25
31 Mar 26
Nominated Festivals
15 Sep 25
31 Mar 26
Submit Entries Regional Finals
23 May 26
31 May 26
Regional Finals
8 Jun 26
15 Jun 26
Submit Entries National Finals
25 Jul 26
2 Aug 26
National Final
Nominated Festivals
1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026
Perform at an AED Nominated Festival
To begin your journey, you must first perform at one of our officially Nominated Festivals.
Marking
Nominated Festivals currently have the option to use:
- BIFF (British & International Federation of Festivals) Band Descriptors,
- Number-based scoring, or
- A combination of both.
The marking system is at the discretion of the individual festival.
Qualifying for a Regional Final
To qualify for a Regional Final:
- A performance must achieve the minimum required mark or band, and be awarded a ‘Q‘ for Qualified.
- Please note: some festivals also use the ‘AED Qualified’ sticker.
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Groups
Groups
Groups
Class
Pre-Junior
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Class E
Class F
Pre-Junior
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Age on 31 August 2025
6 years & under
7 & 8 years
9 & 10 years
11 & 12 years
13 & 14 years
15 & 16 years
17 - 21 years
7 years & under
10 years & under
14 years & under
21 years & under
10 years & under
14 years & under
21 years & under
Minimum Mark
84
84
85
86
86
87
87
84
85
86
87
84
86
87
Regional Finals
23 May 2026 – 31 May 2026
A Celebrated Step Forward
Progressing from a Nominated Festival to a Regional Final is a truly special achievement.
We celebrate not just the skill, but the spirit behind every dancer’s journey, and we honour the incredible accomplishment of reaching this inspiring next step.
Age Grouping Update
From 2026 onwards:
- All solo performers will compete in Regional Finals within their own single age groups.
- Exceptions apply for ages 6 & under and 17–21 years – see the table below.
- Winner and runner-up whose performances meet the qualifying criteria will progress to the National Finals, again competing in single age groups. This ensures greater fairness and recognises excellence in a more age-appropriate context.
Before You Enter
Please ensure you have read the following pages in full:
Qualification Criteria
Solos, Duets, Trios, and Quartets:
- Winner and runner-up will qualify for the National Final.
- Provided they receive the qualifying mark.
Groups:
- The top three highest-scoring groups will qualify for the National Final.
- They must meet the qualifying criteria.
- In larger sections (15+ entries), a 4th place may also progress if the performance reaches the qualifying mark.
Regional Judging Panels
- All performances will be assessed by a panel of three AED-accredited adjudicators.
- Panels are not assigned by genre specialism.
- Instead, we prioritise judges who are:
- Experienced professionals.
- Skilled in assessing theatricality, musicality, and artistry.
- Aligned with AED’s values and mission.
Please note: AED is not an examining body – technique is of vital importance, but so is storytelling, creativity, and presence.
Entering a Regional Final
- Enter your qualified dances via Festival Connect >
- Entry window: 15 September 2025 – 31 March 2026 (midday).
Total Mark
28-30
24-27
21-23
18-20
10-17
0-9
Descriptor
An exceptional performance encompassing excellent technical skills. An outstanding awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
An excellent performance that demonstrated secure technical skills. A consistent awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A consistent performance that demonstrates very good technical skills and/or ability. A strong awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A good performance that demonstrates strong technical skills and/or ability. A consistent awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A generally good performance that demonstrates sound technical skills and/or ability. A sufficient awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A sound performance that demonstrates adequate technical skills and/or ability. A limited awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Solos
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Duets, Trios & Quartets
Groups
Groups
Groups
Age Group
Pre- Junior
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
Pre- Junior
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Age on 31 Aug 2025
6 years and under
7 years
8 years
9 years
10 years
11 years
12 years
13 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
17-21 years
7 years & under
10 years & under
14 years & under
21 years & under
10 years & under
14 years & under
21 years & under
Qualifying Place
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Winner & Runner Up
Top 3 groups
Top 3 groups
Top 3 groups
Qualifying Mark
No Qualifying Mark
No Qualifying Mark
No Qualifying Mark
24
24
24
24
24
24
25.5
25.5
25.5
21
24
24
25.5
24
24
24
National Final
25 July 2026 – 2 August 2026
The Pinnacle of Performance
The National Final is the ultimate celebration of talent, dedication, and artistry – for both dancers and teachers.
Every dancer who steps on stage will be recognised and celebrated, with unforgettable moments created at every turn.
Enter Your Qualified Dance(s)
- Enter via Festival Connect
- Entry window: 8 June – 15 June 2026 (midday)
National Final 2026 Details
Location: The Congress Theatre and The Winter Garden Theatre, Eastbourne, Sussex
Marking Process at the Final
- Assessed by a panel of three adjudicators (AED-accredited + Invited industry professionals)
- Each judge scores independently
- Final score = Combined total of all three scores
Total Mark
28-30
24-27
21-23
18-20
10-17
0-9
Descriptor
An exceptional performance encompassing excellent technical skills. An outstanding awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
An excellent performance that demonstrated secure technical skills. A consistent awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A consistent performance that demonstrates very good technical skills and/or ability. A strong awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A good performance that demonstrates strong technical skills and/or ability. A consistent awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A generally good performance that demonstrates sound technical skills and/or ability. A sufficient awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
A sound performance that demonstrates adequate technical skills and/or ability. A limited awareness of performance and the required artistic elements as required by the choreography is maintained throughout.
