National Dance Association announces return of the National Limbo Competition

The National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NDA) has announced the relaunch of the National Limbo Competition, bringing one of the country’s most recognisable performance traditions back to the national stage in January 2026. 

The competition is being staged in collaboration with the National Carnival Commission and is endorsed by the Ministry of Culture and Community Development. The revival of the National Limbo Competition forms part of the National Dance Association’s 45th Anniversary Year celebrations and reflects its mandate, as established under its Act of Parliament, to preserve, promote and develop dance culture in Trinidad and Tobago.

Open to nationals across Trinidad and Tobago, the competition welcomes both individual performers and groups, with no age restriction. The 2026 edition begins with online video submission for auditions. Successful entrants will advance to a live semi-final round, before competing in a national final during the Carnival season.

The semi-final round is scheduled for Friday 16 January 2026 at the Naparima Bowl Amphitheatre in San Fernando at 7 pm. Admission to the semi-finals will be $100 TTD. Finalists will advance to the grand final on Saturday 24 January 2026 at Carnival Village, Queen’s Park Savannah at 7 pm. Online tickets for the semifinal round can be purchased at ndatt.org/events, with physical tickets expected to go on sale shortly. Patrons can also RSVP for the finals using the same link.

The revived competition carries a total prize pool of $100,000 TTD, with cash prizes awarded to first, second and third place finishers, along with challenge trophies. Several special awards will also be presented, including the King and Queen of Limbo, best costume, most creative presentation and most original human bar. 

Entry fees are set at $300 TTD per group performance entry. Groups may submit up to two performances, provided the dancers and benders are not the same across entries. Individual competitors pay $100 TTD and may enter either independently or as a representative of a group.

On the revival of the competition, President of the National Dance Association, Alette Liz Williams, said that the Executive Committee’s intention in reviving the National Limbo Competition is to honour those who have sustained the artform over generations, while encouraging new interpretations and broad national participation, giving dancers an additional reason to train and specialise, with visibility, recognition and incentive.

She added, “The last National Limbo Competition was held in February 2008, and that gap matters. Dancers benefit from regular, visible platforms that support sustained practice, high standards and generational transfer.”

Williams noted that while limbo has also been recognised as part of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition, the NDA wants the artform to carry greater prominence within the Carnival season. “By restoring the competition to the Carnival calendar, we are also creating space for visitors to experience limbo as a living performance tradition. The support of the National Carnival Commission has been key to returning the competition to this significant season” she said.

Registration is now open, with auditions accepted via video submission. Entries close on Friday 9 January 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

For more information, visit ndatt.org/limbo, follow @nationaldanceassociationtt on Facebook or Instagram, or email nda.tt.org@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE NDA

The National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NDA) is the legally incorporated governing body for dance in Trinidad and Tobago, established in 1980 and incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1997. The Association is mandated to preserve, promote and develop dance in all its forms, while advancing education, participation and professional standards nationally and internationally.

The 2026 National Limbo Competition forms part of this mandate and is sponsored by the National Carnival Commission.

 -ENDS-

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