Every July, studios from the Dance Xplosion competition tour head to the Wildwoods Convention Center on the Boardwalk for the Dance Xplosion National Finals, held in Wildwood nearly every year since 2008. The 2026 finals ran July 6-11; the 2027 finals are set for July 5-10, 2027.

What Makes Dance Xplosion Special

• Dance Xplosion National Finals is a multi-day dance competition for studios from the Dance Xplosion tour, which runs regional competitions in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, New England, Virginia and Ohio.
• Dancers compete in Rising Star, Xccelerated and Xtreme divisions across categories including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, ballet and musical theater, scored by professional judges.
• Held at the Wildwoods Convention Center on the Boardwalk, the event combines competition with a beach vacation.

What to Expect at Dance Xplosion

Dance Xplosion National Finals runs Monday through Saturday.

• 2026: July 6-11; 2027: July 5-10
• Performances at the Wildwoods Convention Center, with high-score awards in four age groups (9 & under, 10-12, 13-15, 16-19)
• Title solos and Xtreme and Xccelerated Challenge awards
• Results from past finals are posted at DanceXplosionTalent.com

Pack comfortable shoes for the Boardwalk, layers for air-conditioned convention spaces, and plenty of hair supplies — dance parents know the drill!

Where to Stay for Dance Xplosion National Finals

The five Coastal Collection hotels are family-owned, motel-style properties within a few blocks of the beach and the Boardwalk. See walk times from each hotel to the Boardwalk, or compare all five Wildwood hotels and book direct on each hotel’s page. Only Coastal Sands Inn stays open from mid-October through March; Beachside Resort, Sunrise Inn, Paradise Inn and Sunset Beach Hotel reopen in April, so check dates when you book.

The Coastal Collection