Award | WallMag

Judged based upon work

The WallMag Dancer of the Year Awards 2026 celebrate the dancers who move India — the classical soloists, street crews, choreographers and self-taught performers turning studios, terraces and stages into work worth watching. This is a pan-style, pan-language national award open across eighteen categories in five groups — Indian Classical & Traditional (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Semi-Classical, Folk Dance); Street & Urban (Hip Hop, Street Dance, Break Dance / B-boying, Locking & Popping, Freestyle); Western & International (Contemporary Dance, Jazz Dance, Salsa / Latin, Belly Dance); Cinematic & Popular (Bollywood, Fusion Dance); Performance Format (Solo Performance, Duet Performance, Group / Crew Performance) — with no gatekeeping by form or following, only your movement and a community ready to watch. Every entry is judged by the WallMag creator community alongside an expert dance jury, so recognition is both credible and community-backed. Winners and finalists earn national visibility, partner-brand rewards, and a lasting place in WallMag's celebration of India's most compelling dance.

Submit up to 5 of your strongest, original dance performances — as a soloist, a duet, a crew, or a choreographer. Each submission may be a single performance or a coherent piece that tells one story.

We're excited about performances you choreographed, performed, or led and fully own — across any style, language or tradition. Portrait (9:16) reels and landscape or square video are both accepted, so a clean phone recording is as welcome as a studio shoot.

Submissions must be your own original work and ownership. Do not upload AI-generated, stock-licensed, or plagiarised content — entries containing these will be disqualified without refund. Where you dance to someone else's music, the choreography and the performance must be yours. Submit at the highest available quality the platform allows.

Award Categories

Enter under the category that best fits your work:

Indian Classical & Traditional

• Bharatanatyam

• Kathak

• Semi-Classical

• Folk Dance

Street & Urban

• Hip Hop

• Street Dance

• Break Dance / B-boying

• Locking & Popping

• Freestyle

Western & International

• Contemporary Dance

• Jazz Dance

• Salsa / Latin

• Belly Dance

Cinematic & Popular

• Bollywood

• Fusion Dance

Performance Format

• Solo Performance

• Duet Performance

• Group / Crew Performance

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can participate in the WallMag Dancer of the Year Awards 2026?

A: Any creator based in India over 18 years of age can participate — hobbyist and professional dancers across every style and tradition, with no experience restrictions. You may enter as a soloist, as a duet, or on behalf of a crew.

Q: How are entries judged?

A: Judging happens in two stages. First, the WallMag creator community votes on every entry, and the Top 100 entries with the most community votes become the finalists. Only after the finalists are announced does the expert jury begin — reviewing those 100 finalists to select the Top 3 winners. In short: the community vote decides the Top 100 finalists, and the jury decides the winners.

Q: How many entries can I submit, and must they be original?

A: You may submit up to 5 original performances that you created and own. Copied, stock, or AI-generated content is disqualified. Dancing to another artist's track is fine — the choreography and the performance must be your own.

Q: Which dance categories can I enter?

A: Eighteen categories across five groups — Indian Classical & Traditional (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Semi-Classical, Folk Dance), Street & Urban (Hip Hop, Street Dance, Break Dance / B-boying, Locking & Popping, Freestyle), Western & International (Contemporary Dance, Jazz Dance, Salsa / Latin, Belly Dance), Cinematic & Popular (Bollywood, Fusion Dance), and Performance Format (Solo, Duet, Group / Crew Performance). Pick the one that best fits each entry.

Q: What does it cost to enter?

A: A single entry is ₹99. Bundles bring the per-entry cost down — 3 entries ₹1,299 and 5 entries ₹1,799 — with the full ladder shown on the award page.

Q: What do winners and finalists receive, and when?

A: Winners and finalists receive partner-brand rewards, a WallMag Creator Magazine feature, and recognition certificates. Rewards and certificates are distributed from 5 November 2026. Every entrant is also officially ranked and receives a participation certificate.

Q: How do I add proof of ownership to my submitted project?

A: Open the award page and go to your “My Submissions” tab, then tap “Submit Proof” on the entry. Add a short statement confirming the work is your own, along with an optional supporting file such as your original/RAW file or source. You can do this any time while the award is open. Adding proof protects your entry during judging and is required later to unlock your certificate.

Q: How are the Top 100 finalists decided?

A: The Top 100 finalists are decided purely by the WallMag creator community vote — the 100 entries with the highest community votes become finalists. The expert jury does not take part at this stage. Jury voting begins only after the Top 100 finalists are announced, and it decides the Top 3 winners from among those finalists.