EBGP 2026 — Rules & Regulations

General Information

The European Ballet Grand Prix 2026 welcomes dance students aged 7 to 21 from around the world. A participant’s age is determined strictly as of February 4, 2026.

The competition takes place in one round, with categories in Classical Dance and/or Contemporary / Freestyle. The best participants will be invited to perform at the prestigious EBGP Charity Awards Gala, with dancers selected by the international jury.

By registering for the EBGP Competition, all participants agree to the official rules and regulations.

Your health and safety are our top priority. EBGP will continue to follow all guidelines issued by the Austrian government and the theater’s policies.

Rights

By registering, participants agree that EBGP may use photos and videos taken during the event for promotion and media purposes, and may share them with third parties.

Liability & Responsibility

Health Insurance: All participants are responsible for their own health insurance.
Liability: The EBGP organization assumes no liability for injuries or accidents.
Risk: All participants perform at their own risk and waive any claims against the EBGP organization.
Participants under 18: Parents, guardians, and teachers are responsible for the behavior of participants under 18 years old, as well as for any damage they may cause.

Online Registration Process

The Online Registration consists of two parts: Dancer Registration and Choreography Registration.

Dancer Registration
- Each participant must complete a personal registration form.
- Required details: full name, date of birth, nationality, school/teacher, and contact information.
Choreography Registration
- After completing the dancer’s registration, each performance piece must be registered separately.
- Required details: title of the piece, category (Classical or Contemporary/Freestyle), choreographer, and music details.
- Each participant may register a maximum of three pieces per category.

Important: Registration is complete only once both steps have been submitted and full payment has been received.

Registration portal: www.ebgp.info
Portal opens: October 20, 2025
Portal closes: December 31, 2025

Additional Notes:

EBGP reserves the right to limit the number of participants before the deadline.
Registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
EBGP reserves the right to decline registrations.

Competition & Gala Schedule

Competition Dates: February 4–6, 2026
Charity Awards Gala: February 6, evening
Competition Venue: Das MuTh Konzertsaal (Am Augartenspitz 1, 1020 Vienna)
Workshop Venue: To be announced

Age Categories

For the purposes of the European Ballet Grand Prix, age is calculated as of the first day of the competition (February 4, 2026). Competitors must fall within the designated age limits below:

Minis (7–9 years): not younger than 7 and not older than 9
Kids (10–12 years): not younger than 10 and not older than 12
Teens (13–15 years): not younger than 13 and not older than 15
Juniors (16–18 years): not younger than 16 and not older than 18
Seniors (19–21 years): not younger than 19 and not older than 21

If a participant’s birthday falls on February 4, 2026, the new age reached on that date will be taken into consideration when determining the correct category.

Competitors must provide proof of age (a valid passport or birth certificate) at registration and at check-in for the competition.

Special Notes:

Only Juniors and Seniors are eligible to compete in the Classical Pas de Deux.
Minis are not permitted to wear pointe shoes.
For group performances, the age category is determined by the oldest participant in the group.

Repertoire Choice

Participants and teachers may freely choose repertoire in Classical, Contemporary, or Freestyle.
Age-appropriate choreography is strongly recommended.
Teachers/participants are responsible for securing choreography and music copyrights.
Neo-classical works belong to the Classical category.
Classical Pas de Deux must include Adagio & Coda.

Fees

Registration Fee

€125 per participant (non-refundable)

Competition Fees

Early Bird (Oct 20 – Nov 2, 2025)

Solo: €110
Pas de Deux: €200
Duo: €180
Small Group (3–4): €280
Big Group (5+): €400

Regular Price (Nov 3 – Dec 15, 2025)

Solo: €120
Pas de Deux: €220
Duo: €195
Small Group (3–4): €310
Big Group (5+): €440

Late Comers (Dec 16 – Dec 31, 2025)

Solo: €130
Pas de Deux: €240
Duo: €210
Small Group (3–4): €335
Big Group (5+): €480

Payment Conditions

Eurozone participants: Payments must be made as an “Inner European Money Transfer” to avoid additional bank charges.
Participants outside the Eurozone: Please add €16 per transfer to cover international banking fees.
Group payments: Strongly recommended for schools to minimize charges.
- Teachers must email a list of participants, piece titles, and categories to office@ebgp.info.

Time Limits

Solo: 2:15 minutes
Classical Pas de Deux (Adagio & Coda): Original length
Duo: 3:30 minutes
Small Group (3–4 dancers): 4:00 minutes
Big Group (5+ dancers): 4:30 minutes

Scoring & Evaluation

Scoring is based on a 100-point scale, evaluating:
- Artistry
- Technical skills
- Performance quality & potential
The final score is the average of all jury evaluations.
Group performances (Pas de Deux, Duo, Small Group, Big Group) receive a single group score.
Jury decisions are final and non-negotiable.
Winners are announced at the end of each competition day, and final rankings will be published online after the event.

Eligibility for EBGP Prizes

The best participants in each category will receive certificates, prizes, and potential scholarships.
If a participant performs multiple pieces in the same category, only the highest-scoring piece is eligible for an award.

Stage & Technical Setup

Stage size: 12 × 12.5 m
Props: Not permitted
Lighting: A uniform light setting will be used for all competitors.
Stage rehearsals: An open stage rehearsal of at least 15 minutes will be scheduled before the competition.

Music Submission

Music files must be submitted via email in MP3 format to music@ebgp.info by January 25, 2026.
Emails must include: ID Number, Participant’s Name, Piece Title, Category, Age Group, Classical/Contemporary, Duration, and Music/Pose indicator.
A €50 late fee applies to submissions after the deadline.
Participants must bring a backup on USB.
Any special cues (pauses, volume changes, etc.) must be communicated in advance to the EBGP backstage manager.

Refund Policy

Refunds are granted only in cases of illness or injury, supported by two medical certificates, submitted before February 1, 2026.
In such cases, 50% of the total fee will be refunded.

Workshops

Workshop schedules will be published on the EBGP website.
Fee: €37 per 90-minute unit
Payment for workshops must be made together with competition registration.
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parents and teachers are not permitted to observe workshops.
Workshops are an integral part of the EBGP experience and reflect our educational mission.
Participation is optional, but strongly encouraged.
Not attending workshops will not affect competition scores.

Backstage Access

Competitors may access the Backstage Area, Dressing Rooms, and Auditorium using their ID Pass.
Accompanying backstage passes for teachers/parents:
- 1–3 participants per school → 1 pass
- 4–10 participants per school → 2 passes
- 11–20 participants per school → 3 passes
- 21–30 participants per school → 4 passes
Additional companions must purchase Day Passes at the MuTh Theater box office.

Audience & Tickets

Participants: Free access to all competition rounds
Children (4–10 years): Free
Juniors (11–15 years): €10/day
Adults (16+ years): €25/day
Charity Awards Gala: Separate tickets required, available via MuTh Theater Box Office

Behavior & Conduct

Teachers/coaches are not permitted to give instructions from the edge of the stage.
Teachers/coaches must ensure participants are ready 45 minutes before their scheduled performance.
EBGP is not responsible for lost valuables or personal belongings.
Food and soft drinks may only be consumed in the theater’s cafeteria.
Smoking and the consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited in all venues.

Awards & Scholarships

Winners are honored at the close of each competition day in the Prize Award Ceremony.
All winners receive official certificates.
Details about scholarships and additional prizes will be published on the EBGP website.
All participants will receive a Diploma of Participation.

Costumes

Costumes must be age-appropriate and respectful.
No nudity, offensive symbols, or unsafe accessories are permitted.

Photography & Filming Policy

Audience members are not permitted to film or photograph performances.
Professional photos and videos will be produced by EBGP or its media partners.

Code of Ethics / Fair Play

Participants and teachers are expected to act with respect, fairness, and integrity.
Choreography must be original or authorized; plagiarism is prohibited.
Any form of intimidation, disrespect, or misconduct towards participants, staff, or jury will not be tolerated.

Communication Rules

All official communication must go through office@ebgp.info.
EBGP staff and jury members cannot be contacted directly regarding competition matters.

Force Majeure

EBGP reserves the right to adapt the format, postpone, or cancel the event due to circumstances beyond its control (e.g., pandemic restrictions, natural disasters).
In such cases, EBGP will communicate procedures for alternative participation formats.