2026 Upcoming Events of Interest - Continually Updated

This post will be updated for events in 2026. Please let us know of any additions or corrections. The post that was being updated with events throughout 2025 has been retired and will no longer be updated.

Zoom or Hybrid Events

Many weekly or recurring events are listed on https://nfo-usa.com/virtual-events-calendar/ and https://facone.org/.  For monthly Zoom Global Folk Dance Parties see https://www.facebook.com/PFDCouncil/ and https://www.folkdance.com/?post_type=tribe_events . Ethnic Dance Chicago's Virtual Dance Room calendar/event list is linked here:  https://www.ethnicdance.net/virtualdanceroom/2020_virtualdanceroom-index.html

https://argonneifd.blogspot.com/2025/12/new-years-day-1126-zoom-dance-1pm-not.html
Argonne IFD New Year's Day Afternoon Zoom Dance
1pm-4pm CST Jan 1, 2026
Online on Zoom

https://stocktonfolkdancecamp.org/winter-weekend/
Stockton Folk Dance Winter Weekend
Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2026
Online on Zoom

Live events in the Chicago area:

Lots of ethnic and folk festivals are listed in https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/illinois-festivals/

https://chicagolandecd.org/chicagoland-west-ecd/
Chicagoland West ECD and IFD
Sun Jan 4, 2026
Glen Ellyn,IL

https://twowaystreet.org/cultural-connections/
Two Way Street Coffee House Nordic Jam
Thu Jan 8, 2026
Downers Grove, IL

https://twowaystreet.org/cultural-connections/
Two Way Street Coffee House Nordic Dance
Sun Jan 11, 2026
Downers Grove, IL

http://www.uofcfolk.org/
University of Chicago Folk Festival
Feb 20-21, 2026
Chicago, IL

Live events elsewhere:

https://sites.google.com/madfolkdance.org/mfdu/folk-ball-2026
Madison Folk Ball
Jan 23-25, 2026
Madison, WI

https://floridafolkdancer.org/
Florida Folk Dance Council Winter Workshop
Jan 30 - Feb 2, 2026
Orlando, FL

https://sites.google.com/site/snopaifd/
SNOPA Folk Dance Weekend
Feb 20-22, 2026
Hudson, WI

https://nfo-usa.org/annual-nfo-conference-2026/
National Folk Organization Annual Conference
Mar 5-8, 2026
Durham, NC

https://allerton.illinois.edu/events/roberts-birthday-ball/
Historical Dancing: Robert's Birthday Ball
Fri Mar 20, 2025
Allerton Park
Monticello, IL

https://www.shimmymob.com/
Shimmy Mob Belly Dance Flash Mob
May 9, 2026
Worldwide