Introduction

​The 2026 NYPA, will be held in Palmerston North, over Labour Weekend 22-25 Oct 2026!!
In 2026 we will celebrate 50 YEARS of the NYPA, so we are starting a day earlier to ensure we have time for Celebrations.

Ballet: Tap Dance: Pianoforte: Vocal as well as the Troupes.
All that talent, energy and entertainment in one place!!

Venues
Venues will include the Regent on Broadway Theatre  & The Speirs Centre.

Timetable
To be announced once Venues and Timetable are confirmed

Final Award Concert
 It will be held at the Regent on Broadway Theatre, Palmerston North. Sunday 25th October in the evening.

Notes:

• Dress for the Final Award Concert is semi-formal.

Prize Package
The total 2026 prize pool is $59,000, including  Troupe, unplaced finalists, potential and audience-choice prizes, medals and sashes. All prize money is subject to funding and availability. PACANZ reserves the right to alter the amount of prize money.

Prize money for each of the four soloist art forms ( Ballet, Tap Dance, Pianoforte and Vocal) will be based on the number of Entries in each genre, with Maximum amounts of:

• Winner: $7,000 Tuition Grant
• 2nd Place: $4,000 Tuition Grant
• 3rd Place: $2,000 Tuition Grant

Prize money for the winning Troupe is $3,000 for 1st place, $2,000 for 2nd place, and $1,000 for 3rd place.
​
All placegetter Prize money for the Troupe section is sponsored by SHE SHINES ON Dance Tours.
The Potential Prize of $300 is sponsored by DanceNZmade

Solo Nominee Entitlements
Each society nominee and direct entry nominee will receive:

•  One entry pass (Competitor Lanyard) giving access to all venues for all preliminary sessions, semi-finals and the adjudicator review; and
• One complimentary competitors pass to the Final Award Concert (for nominee use only).

 Troupe Nominee Entitlements 2026

Each member of a nominated Troupe will be given access to Regent Theatre OR Event Cinemas to watch the Troupe Competition via Stream (Troupe wrist band). This is dependent on Troupe Numbers and available space at the Regent Theatre
​One accompanying adult - per Troupe- will receive one entry pass (Troupe Lanyard) giving access to the Regent Theatre for the duration of the Troupe competition.

Requirements

Society Nomination for Soloists
If you receive a Society Nomination to the National Young Performer Awards, you are required to pay an entry fee of $230 inc. GST. This is in addition to the $80 inc. GST. paid as entry fee by your nominating society.

Direct Nomination for Soloists
If you have received a Direct Nomination ( Pianoforte & Vocal only)  to the National Young Performer Awards, you are required to pay an entry fee of $310 inc. GST.

Society Nomination for Troupe
If you receive a Society Nomination to the National Young Performer Awards you are required to pay an entry fee of $310 inc. GST for up to 10 dancers and $10 for each additional dancer.

To Confirm Your Nomination
You are required to complete and submit:

• the official entry info (link sent to all nominees following official notification of nomination) via the NYPA APP  and entry fee paid;
• titles of your items; and
• in the case of  Ballet, Tap Dance and Troupe competitors, the performance copies of your dance music (mp3 /wmv files only - uploaded as part of the online Entry process
• Troupe Nominees must submit their Entry within TWO weeks of being nominated and their Entry MUST include a video of the Item they received the Nomination for and their music file. Please note: early Nominees ( end of 2025) will have longer than 2 weeks to enter.

You need to submit the title of the music and artist for APRA purposes. The final date for Soloist backing music is 8th October.

Please note: The first of the Soloist Nominees will receive the invite link to the Soloist Dashboard by late May 2026, with a closing date of  30th June 2026.
The Troupe Nominees will receive the invite link to the Troupe Dashboard as soon as their Nomination is received at the PACANZ office and they have TWO weeks form that date to enter.
In the Dashboard they will access -

• Introductory letter and overall NYPA information.
• NYPA 2026 APP Link for Entry into the relevant genre.
• Nominee Information: including NYPA Rules and Criteria.
• Merchandise Info : including Photos/Videography, Clothing, Memorabilia.
• Ticketing Info and Ticketek link.
• Post NYPA Workshop Info.
• FAQ Info for Troupes.
• Access to the NYPA Merchandise store : including the payment platform for the Entry Fee.

Closing Dates

• Entries close 30 June 2026 for those competitors nominated by 31 May 2026  (all solo art forms).
• Entries close 31 August 2026 for those competitors nominated by 31 July 2026 (all solo art forms).
• Entries close 8 September 2026 for those Solo and Troupe competitors nominated by 31 August 2026 .
• Troupe Entries close TWO WEEKS after their Nomination has been received at the PACANZ Office.
• Soloist  Photos, Bios, Ballet, Pianoforte and Vocal Programme detail, Titles etc close 8 September 2026 For all  genres.
• Music file uploads close 8 October 2026 for all music for Ballet and Tap Dance.

Quick Links

About the NYPA

Competition Dates

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