San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival 2026, United States

• November 20, 2026
  Event date:
• November 22, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

The San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival 2026 returns to San Diego for a three-day celebration of tap dance, jazz dance, live music, workshops, social dancing and community. The festival takes place from November 20–22, 2026, during the weekend before Thanksgiving. It is designed for dancers of different ages and experience levels, while also welcoming people who simply enjoy live music, dance performances and the culture surrounding tap and jazz. The organizers describe the event as a community-focused celebration bringing together dancers, musicians and audiences for classes, concerts, showcases and social events.

The 2026 festival is expected to follow the format established in previous editions, combining intensive dance classes with performance opportunities and evening social events. The confirmed All-Access Pass includes unlimited classes, the Faculty & Jazz Concert, Opening Tap Jam, a social dance with a live band, the Closing Showcase and a 2026 festival T-shirt. Single-class and individual-event tickets are also available, giving visitors the option of building a more flexible weekend around particular activities.

Most 2026 classes and festival events are scheduled to take place at Keiller Leadership Academy at 7270 Lisbon Street in San Diego. The organizers have confirmed that additional faculty, the detailed class schedule and further event information are still being released, so visitors should check the official festival information as the November weekend approaches.

Festival dates

The San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival 2026 takes place over three days:

• Friday, November 20, 2026
• Saturday, November 21, 2026
• Sunday, November 22, 2026

The festival is scheduled for the weekend before Thanksgiving. The three-day structure gives attendees the opportunity to participate in workshops and classes during the daytime and attend concerts, jams, social dancing and showcase performances during the festival’s evening programming.

The exact timetable for individual classes and events has not yet been fully published for 2026. The organizers have confirmed that further faculty, schedule and event details will be released as the festival approaches.

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Venue & festival site

Most classes and festival events in 2026 will be held at Keiller Leadership Academy.

Keiller Leadership Academy

7270 Lisbon Street
San Diego, CA 92114
United States

The venue serves as the principal festival location for workshops and classes and is expected to be the main gathering point throughout the weekend. The organizers used the same location for the majority of classes and events during the 2025 festival.

The festival may use additional San Diego locations for individual performances or activities, as previous editions included programming across multiple venues. Attendees should therefore check the final schedule before traveling to make sure they are going to the correct location for each class or event.

Full lineup

The complete 2026 faculty and performer lineup has not yet been published by the organizers. The official festival website currently states that additional faculty, schedule and event details are coming soon. This means a definitive full 2026 lineup should not be assumed until it is announced officially.

The festival’s confirmed 2026 program structure includes:

• Tap dance classes and workshops
• Jazz dance classes
• Faculty-led instruction
• Repertory courses
• Faculty & Jazz Concert
• Opening Tap Jam
• Social Dance with a live band
• Closing Showcase
• Community and networking opportunities
• Additional festival events to be announced

The organizers have previously invited nationally and internationally recognized tap dancers, jazz dancers, choreographers and educators. The 2025 faculty included Claudia Gomez, Michela Marino Lerman, Danté Lara, Josette Wiggan, Nico Rubio, Summer Williams and Starinah Dixon. These artists were part of the 2025 edition and should not be treated as confirmed 2026 performers unless the organizers announce their return.

Headliners

The 2026 headliners have not yet been officially announced. Unlike a traditional music festival where headline artists may be confirmed months in advance, San Diego Tap & Jazz places considerable emphasis on faculty, workshops, live musicians, dance education and community performances.

The festival’s previous faculty demonstrates the caliber of artists associated with the event. Michela Marino Lerman, for example, is an internationally recognized tap dancer, performer, choreographer, bandleader and educator. Danté Lara is a Los Angeles-based tap dancer, teacher and choreographer, while Josette Wiggan is known for her work in African American Vernacular Jazz Dance and has performed and taught internationally.

The 2026 festival website currently confirms that additional faculty information is still forthcoming. The final headliner or featured-artist information should therefore be checked against the official announcement before publication as confirmed 2026 lineup information.

Stage-by-stage schedule

A complete stage-by-stage schedule for 2026 has not yet been released. The festival is primarily a dance education and performance event rather than a conventional multi-stage music festival, so its schedule is expected to be organized around classrooms, workshops, concert spaces, social dance areas and showcase venues.

Based on the confirmed 2026 program structure, visitors can expect the weekend to include:

• Class and workshop spaces: Tap and jazz instruction for different experience levels
• Faculty programming: Classes and sessions led by festival faculty
• Concert programming: Faculty & Jazz Concert
• Jam programming: Opening Tap Jam
• Social dance area: Social dancing accompanied by a live band
• Showcase space: Closing Showcase
• Additional activity areas: Further programming to be announced

The 2025 festival included two full days of classes, the Opening Tap Jam, Faculty & Jazz Concert, Social Dance with live band and Closing Showcase. The 2026 organizers have confirmed these major components again through the All-Access Pass description.

Set times

Individual class times and performance set times for the 2026 festival have not yet been published. The organizers have specifically indicated that additional schedule information is coming soon.

This is particularly important for dancers purchasing individual classes because the final timetable will determine which sessions overlap and how visitors can organize their weekend.

The 2025 edition provided a complete downloadable schedule showing individual classes, workshops and social events. A comparable detailed 2026 schedule is expected to provide class times, faculty assignments, performances and evening events once released. Visitors should rely on the official schedule rather than unofficial times when planning their final itinerary.

Ticket types

The 2026 festival offers several ways to participate.

All-Access Pass

The 2026 All-Access Pass is currently listed at $189 USD. It includes the 2026 festival T-shirt, unlimited classes including repertory courses, the Faculty & Jazz Concert, Opening Tap Jam, Social Dance with a live band, Closing Showcase and additional festival programming.

Single Class Tickets

Individual class tickets are also available for visitors who do not want to purchase the full weekend pass. This option is useful for dancers who are interested in particular teachers or styles rather than attending the entire festival.

Individual Event Tickets

Individual tickets are also offered for selected festival events. This gives non-participating spectators and dancers more flexibility when choosing concerts, showcases or social events.

The organizers currently describe the 2026 All-Access Pass as an early-bird offer, meaning ticket conditions and prices may change as the festival gets closer.

Public transport after the festival

Visitors staying in central San Diego can use the city’s public transportation network to travel to and from festival activities. Because the principal venue is in southeastern San Diego, attendees should check the current MTS bus and trolley connections when the final festival timetable is released.

For evening events such as the Faculty & Jazz Concert, Opening Tap Jam, social dancing and Closing Showcase, attendees should check the final ending time before choosing public transportation. Late-night service may be less frequent than daytime connections.

Rideshare services and taxis can provide an alternative for visitors leaving the venue after late performances or social events. Visitors staying near downtown San Diego should allow additional travel time because the festival’s main venue is outside the central downtown area.

Accommodation areas

Downtown San Diego

Downtown is a convenient base for visitors who want access to restaurants, entertainment and public transportation while attending the festival. The Gaslamp Quarter, East Village and surrounding downtown neighborhoods provide numerous accommodation options.

National City

National City can be useful for visitors who want to remain relatively close to the southeastern part of San Diego while potentially avoiding downtown accommodation prices.

Chula Vista

Chula Vista is another practical area for visitors with a car. It offers accommodation options south of central San Diego and can work well for visitors planning to explore other parts of the region during their festival weekend.

Southeastern San Diego

Visitors whose priority is minimizing travel time to Keiller Leadership Academy may prefer accommodation closer to the festival venue. This can be particularly useful for dancers attending several classes each day.

Food & drink at the festival

Food and beverage arrangements for the 2026 festival have not yet been fully announced. Because most festival programming takes place at a school campus, visitors should not assume that a large permanent festival food village will operate throughout the weekend.

Attendees should check the final festival information for any food vendors, concessions or designated meal breaks. Dancers participating in multiple classes may also want to plan meals around their workshop schedule, particularly if classes are scheduled consecutively.

San Diego provides a wide range of restaurants and casual dining options outside the festival venue. Visitors staying downtown, in National City or in surrounding neighborhoods can plan meals before or after festival programming.

Accessibility

Accessibility information for the 2026 festival has not yet been comprehensively published. Visitors requiring specific accommodations should contact San Diego Tap & Jazz before attending so that the organizers can clarify access arrangements at Keiller Leadership Academy and any other festival locations.

Because the festival involves dance classes, workshops and social dancing, accessibility needs may differ from those at a conventional seated concert. Visitors should explain any mobility, seating, hearing or other access requirements when contacting the organizers.

The festival is community-focused and welcomes dancers of different ages and experience levels. However, attendees should confirm specific physical-access arrangements directly with the festival before making travel arrangements.

Best days to attend

Friday, November 20 is a strong choice for visitors who want to begin the weekend with opening activities and social programming. It provides an opportunity to settle into the festival environment before the main class days.

Saturday, November 21 is likely to be the busiest day for dancers because the festival’s established format places substantial workshop and class programming across the weekend. Visitors who want to experience multiple classes should prioritize Saturday.

Sunday, November 22 is ideal for visitors interested in completing the weekend with final classes, social activities and the Closing Showcase. The final day can also be attractive for spectators who are primarily interested in seeing the festival’s performance-oriented programming.

For the fullest experience, the three-day All-Access Pass is the most comprehensive option because it combines classes, concerts, jams, social dancing and the closing event.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2025 San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival took place November 21–23 and followed a three-day format similar to the 2026 edition. The festival featured two full days of classes for different ages and levels, an Opening Tap Jam, Faculty & Jazz Concert, social dancing with a live band and Closing Showcase.

The 2025 faculty lineup included Claudia Gomez, Michela Marino Lerman, Danté Lara, Josette Wiggan, Nico Rubio, Summer Williams and Starinah Dixon. The festival brought together experienced tap artists, educators, choreographers and performers from different parts of the United States and the wider dance community.

Michela Marino Lerman was one of the prominent faculty artists, with a career spanning performance, choreography, education and collaborations with major artists and institutions. Danté Lara brought experience across stage, television, film, live music and tap education, while Josette Wiggan contributed expertise in African American Vernacular Jazz Dance.

The 2025 festival also emphasized community participation rather than simply presenting performances. The combination of classes, social dance, live music and showcases allowed participants to learn from professional artists and connect with other dancers.

Official tickets

The official 2026 ticket page currently lists the San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival All-Access Pass at $189 USD. The pass includes the festival T-shirt, unlimited classes, repertory courses, Faculty & Jazz Concert, Opening Tap Jam, Social Dance with a live band, Closing Showcase and more.

The festival also offers single-class and individual-event tickets, providing alternatives for visitors who do not require an all-access weekend pass.

The official festival website should be used for the latest ticket inventory, individual-event availability, faculty announcements and schedule updates.

Ticket release phases

The 2026 festival is already on sale, with the organizers currently promoting Early Bird All-Access Passes. The published All-Access Pass is $189 USD, and the official ticket page states that early-bird pricing is available only for a limited time.

Additional ticket categories are available for individual classes and events. These provide more flexibility for people who cannot attend the full three-day festival.

The organizers have not published a detailed multi-phase price calendar showing exact dates for future ticket increases. Visitors should therefore purchase through the official ticket system if they want to take advantage of the currently advertised early-bird pricing.

VIP/Village options

The 2026 festival does not currently advertise a conventional VIP village, camping village or large-scale premium festival compound.

Instead, the main premium-style experience is the All-Access Pass, which provides broad access to the festival’s educational and performance program. The pass includes unlimited classes, repertory courses, the Faculty & Jazz Concert, Opening Tap Jam, Social Dance with a live band, Closing Showcase and a festival T-shirt.

Visitors looking for a more complete festival experience can therefore use the All-Access Pass rather than purchasing separate tickets for each activity. Additional premium hospitality options should only be considered confirmed if announced by the organizers.

Festival rules

The San Diego Tap & Jazz Dance Festival is a dance-focused community event, so attendees should respect instructors, fellow dancers, performers and venue staff throughout the weekend.

Visitors attending classes should arrive prepared for physical activity and follow any instructor or venue requirements regarding footwear, clothing, personal belongings and classroom behavior.

Class capacity may be limited, particularly for popular faculty sessions. Attendees should follow the registration and check-in procedures provided with their tickets and should not assume that purchasing a festival pass guarantees a particular classroom seat or position.

Photography and video policies may differ between classes, concerts and performances. Visitors should follow instructions from faculty and event staff and avoid recording or photographing other participants when permission has not been given.

The festival takes place at an educational facility and other event locations, so visitors should respect the property and comply with all venue-specific policies.

How to get there

The principal 2026 festival venue is Keiller Leadership Academy at 7270 Lisbon Street, San Diego, CA 92114.

Visitors arriving by car can use San Diego’s major road network to reach southeastern San Diego. Because classes may begin early and multiple sessions can run throughout the day, driving can be convenient for dancers carrying dance equipment or attending several sessions.

Visitors without a car can use San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System services and connect to local bus routes serving the area around the venue. Exact public transport connections should be checked shortly before the festival because schedules can change.

Rideshare services are another practical option, especially for visitors staying in downtown San Diego or traveling to the venue for evening events. Anyone attending several sessions should allow additional time for traffic and parking.

Location

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