Iowa PBS presents the 2026 Iowa State Dance Team Championships
Female dancers performing in yellow uniforms with silver pom poms. The dancer in the center foreground is leaping in the air with her arms raised.

For 50 years, the Iowa State Dance Team Championships have showcased the talents of Iowa's young athletes. Iowa PBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the event, featuring highlights of all the winning routines and busy backstage action. The 2026 Iowa State Dance Team Championships will premiere on the statewide network Saturday, January 17 at 7 p.m. and be rebroadcast Sunday, January 18 at 1 p.m.

The dance championships were held in Des Moines at Casey’s Center and EMC Expo Center on December 3-5, 2025. Nearly 5,000 dance athletes from 245 high school and 26 college teams from across the state competed.

 "I'm always grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the dance athletes and watch their performances," said Iowa PBS Producer and Director Judy Blank. "Experiencing this event in person inspires a sense of admiration and optimism in me, which I believe viewers will also value and enjoy.”

This competition marks the Iowa State Dance Team Association’s 50th anniversary. From a modest beginning in 1976, when only nine teams competed, this competition has grown to become one of the nation's largest and most prestigious events of its kind. Teams perform in a variety of categories including: pom, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, kick, lyrical, prop, novelty, color guard, co-ed and M.I.X. Hosts for this two-hour, fast-paced coverage are Executive Director of the Iowa State Dance Team Association, Andrea Dana; ISDTA Board President, Stacie Horton; and dance championships event announcer Scott Enyart.

Funding for the 2026 Iowa State Dance Team Championships is provided by Friends of Iowa PBS and Musco Lighting.