2025 WDSF World Caribbean Dance Championship in Istanbul – Registrations Now Open
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) is delighted to announce that the rhythms of salsa and bachata will once again take centre stage at the highest international level. Following the great success of last year’s championship in Guadalajara, the 2025 WDSF World Caribbean Dance Championship promises to be a historic milestone for these vibrant dance styles — an unforgettable showcase of salsa and bachata at their finest, a weekend filled with rhythm, energy, and world-class performances.
This year, the honour of hosting the championship goes to Istanbul, where the Türkiye Dance Sports Federation will welcome athletes, judges, and fans from around the globe. The event will take place on 6–7 December 2025 at the prestigious Green Park Pendik Hotel — a modern and elegant venue perfectly suited to celebrate one of the most anticipated competitions of the international calendar.
Participation conditions and registration process
The championship will be an open competition, with no restriction on the number of athletes that each country may enter. This provides more dancers with the opportunity to showcase their talent on the international stage.
The deadline for completing registrations is 21 November 2025. All registrations must be processed via the national administrators of the National Member Bodies (NMBs). To participate, athletes must first contact their national federation to obtain their license number and subsequently apply for the international license through the official WDSF platform (ecards.worlddancesport.org). Once the license is confirmed, the national federation will be responsible for submitting the official championship registration.
In order to finalize the registration, athletes must also provide a video demonstrating their competition outfit in motion — including turns and poses — as well as upload the music track to be used in the final. These requirements ensure that all materials are approved in advance and that the championship runs in accordance with the official regulations, which are available in full in the competition rulebook.
Competition categories and schedule
The championship will be held across two days of intense dance and spectacle.
On Saturday, 6 December, the stage will come alive with Salsa Shine and Bachata competitions across various divisions:
- Salsa Shine: Solo Male Adult & Junior, Solo Female Adult, Junior and Senior
- Bachata: Adult
- Bachata Shine: Duo Female Adult & Junior, Shine Solo Female Junior
And for the second day, on Sunday, 7 December:
- Salsa (Partner): On One Adult, On Two Adult
- Salsa Shine: Duo Female Adult & Junior
- Bachata Shine: Solo Male Adult & Junior, Solo Female Adult & Senior
These two days promise to bring together the very best of international salsa and bachata talent, with the added thrill of competing for WDSF world titles.
Travel and accomodation
The organisers strongly recommend that athletes and visitors travel via Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, located just 12 kilometres from the official hotel. This option is considerably more convenient than Istanbul International Airport, which is situated 94 kilometres away and may take more than two hours to reach, depending on traffic conditions.
There will be no official shuttle service from the airports; however, the Green Park Pendik Hotel offers private transfers at competitive rates for those who wish to make use of them.
Tickets and spectator access
The championship will also be a celebration for the audience. One-day tickets will be available at €20 per person, while VIP tickets, offering a more exclusive experience, will be priced at €50 per person, per day. For further information or to reserve tickets, please contact the organizers at [email protected].
A date to remember
2025 WDSF World Caribbean Dance Championship promises to be an unforgettable event. Istanbul, a city bridging East and West, will provide the perfect backdrop for bringing together the finest salsa and bachata performers in a weekend filled with passion, music and artistry. It will undoubtedly be a vibrant celebration that honours not only technical excellence and competition, but also the joy and cultural diversity that are at the very heart of Caribbean dances.
WDSF President Shawn Tay highlighted the rapid rise of Caribbean dances and the importance of the upcoming championship:
“Caribbean dances are gaining more and more followers worldwide, and we expect this championship to reflect the remarkable growth of a discipline that is here to stay. It will be a showcase of the extraordinary talent of our athletes and a celebration of the cultural richness that salsa and bachata bring to DanceSport.”
We look forward to welcoming you in Istanbul this December to experience the magic of the WDSF World Championship!
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