We present to you 5 evenings of partying hard. The nocturnal magic will start at 8:30 PM and continues till long after midnight.
We kick off each evening with unmissable Upside Down starters, followed by a dope selection of live bands and DJs.
And be ready for some surprises and shows!
P.S. We are not sold out yet. If you want to join for 1 or more nights, buy a ticket at the door.
venue: Concertzaal Vooruit/VIERNULVIER
Saturday 27 Dec Lester’s Blues
Sunday 28 Dec Swing Kitchen
Monday 29 Dec Ewan Bleach & the Cable Street Rag Band
Tuesday 30 Dec The Morning Call Jazz Band
20:30 doors open, DJ music
21:00 starter
22:00 start live music
23:00 competition
00:00 midnight surprise
01:00 end of live music, start DJ music
03:30 end of party
The Fast Swing Out competition is for everyone who loves doing swing outs (and who doesn’t, right?!). While most competitions focus on improvisation or presenting choreography, this one is all about that awesome gut feeling of the swing out itself.
Think this is for you? No registration needed, just show up with a partner of your choice. During the competition, couples (switching partners is allowed) will dance to songs with increasing tempos. Judges will tap couples out if they can’t keep up with the pace, go offbeat, or break the most important rule of all:
YOU CAN ONLY DO SWING OUTS!
Who? Everybody can participate
How? Show up with a partner of choice, no registration needed
When? Sunday night 28th, 23:00
A mix and match (M&M) competition is one of the purest ways to celebrate social dancing. Also known as Luck of the Draw or Social Draw, this format is loved in dances like Lindy Hop and many other dance styles because it keeps things spontaneous, playful, and real.
In a mix and match, dancers are randomly paired with someone dancing the opposite role, and together they hit the floor to a randomly selected song. There’s no time for planning, no set choreography to rely on. It is pure connection, musicality, and how well you can dance together in the moment.
Because everything happens on the spot, this format comes closest to what social dancing is truly about: listening, adapting, and creating something fun and shared with a partner you’ve just met. It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence, partnership, and the joy of the dance floor.
Who? Everyone who recently started dancing, with up to 1,5 years of experience.
How? You sign up individually during the party. A sign up form will be put up at the registration booth of the party venue on Sat 27/12 and Sun 28/12.
When? This competition unfolds in two moments on Monday 29 Dec: we have a first selection round (called “prelims”) early in at 20:30, and the final part of the competition at 23:00. If you sign up for this competition, make sure to be there in time for prelims.
We invite our inspirers and other guests to compete in this first ever multi music style battle concept. Competitors will be randomly paired with a partner. The pairs are free to dance partnered, solo, in duo or a combination.
The battle will be a combination of knockout style and jam-circle-jump-in. The knockout system will not be programmed by lottery but by “jump-in” style. Every battle starts with a song in a different music style. All pairs will be able to choose when and to what music they battle, the moment the music starts. The first pair to jump in, challenges the other pairs left in that round to battle them. Judges will decide who wins the battle. The winners proceed to the next round.
Make sure you don’t miss it. This will be an exciting competition for the most experienced dancers at UDF!
Who? Individual dancers (solo, partnered in any dance style) that we feel will be comfortable dancing in this experimental competition.
How? We will invite dancers before and during the festival and are also reaching out to participants we don’t know but who want to join: if you believe you are a very talented dancer who should be in this competition, write us an email sharing why!
When? Tuesday night 30th, 23:00
It’s the crowd’s choice. This award celebrates the dance floor legend who truly represents the core vibes of the festival. Whether it’s spreading good energy, being welcoming, showing great rhythm, having a unique sensitivity in partnership, or simply being the life of the party, this is about what we as a community value in social dancing.
Everyone is invited to reflect on what social dancing truly means to them, and to experience that on the dance floor. If you notice someone who embodies what you genuinely appreciate in a social dancer, we invite you to nominate them.
You’ll receive nomination slips during the festival. Use it to write down the dancer’s name and add a word or sentence explaining why you nominate them. You are welcome to nominate multiple people.
Who? Everybody participates, everybody votes
How? Just be 😉 and vote! (You will receive nomination slips during the festival)
When? From Saturday 27/12 until Tuesday night 30/12. Votes need to be in before 21:00 on Tuesday night.
venue: Het Balenmagazijn
For New Year’s Eve we have something special planned: a big party in club style featuring a mix of jazz and jazz-related music styles (Black American Music).
We keep the artists a surprise for now… Expect magical musicians, dazzling DJs and amazing acts.
And of course, we count down together for 2026 in style!
No partying on an empty stomach: we serve a festive 5-course plant-based menu before the party starts. Places are limited.
22:00 doors open
intimate live music & swing DJs
22:30 starter
23:40 Midnight surprises & New Year countdown
Jazz and beyond party with Upside Down All Stars
6:00 end of the party
This was UDF23 goes UDF24 last edition:
Let’s get together for this friendly social!
No less than 3 DJs will set the mood for a week-long experience.
21:00 – 01:00 Pre party
DJ Dasha & Bert, DJ Aaron
This pre-party is included in the Festival Pass, 4-day Pass and Weekend ticket.
No ticket yet? Join us for €5 (cash or card at the door).
Can’t stop dancing?
We get it. Join us for a New Year’s Day party with live band at a unique location.
21:00 – 02:00 after party
live music starting 21:30 Natural Vibes
This after-party is included in the Festival Pass.
No ticket yet? Join us for €10 (cash at the door).
For those who are unstoppable: we have a very nice monthly social dance called Practice Your Moves.
It is organized by De Gentse Hoppers. For the first edition of the year, it is with live music!
21:00 – 01:00 Practice Your Moves
band TBA
This event is free.