While the “Digital Stage” at Sadler’s Wells has long served as a high-calibre online archive for dance, 2026 will see the medium move from the laptop screen to the auditorium. Dance Digital, the organisation’s first-ever dedicated dance film festival, is set to take over the Lilian Baylis Studio from June 5–7, 2026.
Though the festival was first announced late last year, the timeline for participation is now entering a critical phase. With exactly one month to go before the earlybird submission deadline on Sunday, January 18, 2026, filmmakers the countdown is on for filmmakers to secure their place in the programme at a reduced rate.
The Shift to Physical
By centring the festival at the 180-seat Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells is making a clear statement: dance on screen is no longer to be viewed as a secondary record of live performance. The three-day event is designed as a physical forum, featuring not just screenings of UK and international submissions, but also VR/XR installations, mentoring sessions, and industry talks.
The move reflects a broader trend in the arts, where “screendance” has evolved from an experimental niche into a primary discipline. For independent creators, the festival offers a rare chance to see work—often designed for solo viewing—shared within the collective atmosphere of a theatre.
With exactly one month to go before the earlybird submission deadline on Sunday, January 18, 2026, filmmakers have a final opportunity to secure their place in the programme at a reduced rate.
Categories and Commissions
The festival’s open call is intentionally broad, seeking to capture the full spectrum of contemporary dance filmmaking.
- Submissions are currently being accepted across five distinct categories:
- Short dance on screen (up to 25 minutes)
- Short documentary/behind-the-scenes (up to 25 minutes)
- Feature length (over 25 minutes)
- Social first films (up to 3 minutes)
- Films by young people (lead artists aged 21 and under)
In a move to ensure the festival remains accessible to emerging talent, the “young people” category is free to enter. For other categories, the earlybird fee is £15, rising to £25 after the January 18 cut-off.
“We’re witnessing an extraordinary explosion of dance on film, a global surge of creativity where choreography meets cinematography in bold, boundary-breaking ways…”
Bia Oliveira, Director of Digital Stage and Studio for Sadler’s Wells
A Community Vision
Bia Oliveira, Director of Digital Stage and Studio for Sadler’s Wells, views the festival as a response to a global creative shift.
“We’re witnessing an extraordinary explosion of dance on film, a global surge of creativity where choreography meets cinematography in bold, boundary-breaking ways,” noted Oliveira. “This festival not only celebrates that momentum, but also fosters a vibrant community and forum where artists can access mentoring sessions, talks, exchange ideas and deepen their craft in filmmaking for dance.”
Performed by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
Photo by LIU Chen-hsiang
Oliveira added that the selection process will “spotlight the most compelling, innovative voices shaping the future of dance on screen.”
Beyond the Weekend
The festival’s impact will extend beyond the three days in Angel. As the event draws to a close, awards will be presented in categories including Best Cinematography and Best Choreography.
Furthermore, a curated selection of the best works will return to the Digital Stage platform, allowing the films to reach a global audience after their physical premiere.
For filmmakers, the clock is ticking. The final programme will be revealed in March 2026, but the door to the earlybird rate closes in four weeks. In a medium often defined by its transience on social media, Dance Digital offers an opportunity for institutional permanence.
Featured Image: Natalia Osipova_Pure Dance_Photographer Rick Guest (c)_Stylist Olivia Pomp
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