REGULATIONS FOR THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL PRELIMINARY ROUNDS OF THE TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026
These regulations govern all Official International Preliminary Rounds of the Tango Buenos Aires Festival and World Championship to be held in 2026.
The Tango Dance Competition ("THE COMPETITION") comprises the categories Tango de Pista and/or Tango Escenario. Both categories are open-entry for amateurs and professionals alike.

The organizing entity (“THE ORGANIZER”) of the OFFICIAL PRELIMINARY ROUND of the TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 shall be solely liable for staging the event and may charge fees for couples’ registration for said event and for workshops or other scheduled activities. THE ORGANIZER shall communicate details regarding registration dates and channels, prizes, and any mentions in addition to those established in these regulations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the highest authority of the competition -with respect to compliance with all provisions of these regulations- shall be the General Directorate of Festivals and Cultural Nights of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (“DGFyNC”).
In this regard, any activity related to the conduct of the PRELIMINARY ROUNDS shall comply with these Regulations.

Couples may register if both dancers are 18 years of age or older as of the start date of the local competition and can reliably prove, with legally valid documents, at least one (1) year of residence within the Preliminary Round area of influence.
No person may register more than once in the same category, though they may compete in different categories with the same or a different partner.
Each couple will represent the city of residence of its members. If the partners reside in different cities within the Preliminary Round area, they shall choose and declare which city they will represent. No couple may compete in Preliminary Rounds from different areas of influence; any couple that does so will be automatically eliminated from those in which they subsequently participate.
The following persons are ineligible to compete: staff of the DGFyNC, organizers of Official Preliminary Rounds, and judges of the Tango Buenos Aires Dance World Championship and its preliminary Rounds or the City Dance Championship; sponsors and/or staff of companies that sponsor the Preliminary Round; or any person maintaining a permanent or temporary relationship with the DGFyNC.
Participants or couples who have been disqualified or eliminated from either a Preliminary Competition or the Dance World Championship within the last calendar year shall also be ineligible to compete.
Where elimination resulted from serious violations of the competition rules, the DGFyNC may extend the sanction.

For accreditation purposes, all registered competitors must appear on the date and time set by the Preliminary Round’s Organizer and shall present their original national identification card or document, or passport with valid residency. Copies of the documentation submitted shall be recorded. At that time, competitors will receive an entry number and be informed of the dates, venues, and approximate times of their presentations at each stage of the corresponding category.
Registered competitors who fail to appear for accreditation may not participate in the championship. Delays will be considered only in cases of force majeure duly justified with supporting documents, except where the situation is a matter of public knowledge. Once this stage has concluded, competitors will no longer be able to be accredited.
At accreditation, registrants shall submit the registration form together with any additional information required by the Organizer. In this form they shall also inform whether, in the six (6) months prior to the championship, they have had any employment, professional, or personal relationship with any of the competition judges, including having a personal or emotional relationship with one or more judges, having taken private lessons with one or more judges, presenting a Tango Escenario choreography that was created, reviewed, or prepared together with one or more judges, or having hired, or been hired by, one or more judges to participate in the same event by giving exhibitions or classes within that event. This declaration will be cross-checked by the Observer with the judges in order to determine any potential abstentions from judging.
Competitors may take group classes or seminars taught by the judges, but may not take private lessons from any member of the jury while they are participating in the competition. Likewise, in the case of Tango Escenario, competing couples may not present choreographies created, reviewed, or prepared by any team member of theOrganizer of the Preliminary Round.
All information provided at the time of accreditation shall be considered a sworn statement. Any contradiction therein found subsequent to signature may be penalized by a score reduction, disqualification from the competition, or any other measure deemed appropriate.
The national identification (ID) card or document and passport submitted at the accreditation shall be presented before each day of the competition.
All Championship participants agree to take part — whenever summoned for such purpose — in the various acts and events planned by the Organizer of the Preliminary Round, such as press conferences, interviews for broadcast and cable radio or television programs, and appearances in digital media.

THE COMPETITION, in both categories, may be held in three (3) stages, according to the schedule established by the Organizer: a) Qualifying stage, b) Semifinal, c) Final.
a) Qualifying stage: all registered couples shall participate.
b) Semifinal: the couples selected in the Qualifying stage shall compete.
c) Final: the couples selected in the Semifinal shall compete. If deemed appropriate based on the number of participating couples, the Organizer may add a Quarterfinal stage.
At the time of the competition, there shall be at least ten (10) couples participating in the Qualifying stage of the Tango Escenario category and at least twenty (20) couples in the Tango de Pista category for the competition to be considered official (regardless of the number of registered couples). Otherwise, the competition shall lose its official status, and the couple that becomes champion shall not qualify to compete in the TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026.
In the Tango de Pista category, couples shall compete in group rounds, dancing three (3) recorded tangos. The list of tangos shall be provided by the Observer appointed by the DGFyNC, taking into particular consideration the recommendations of the Judges. The DJ shall be present at the time of accreditation and shall make any necessary adjustments to the tangos to ensure optimal sound quality.
In the Tango Escenario category, each couple shall compete individually, dancing a tango of their own choice. This tango shall not exceed the maximum duration of four (4) minutes and shall be submitted to the Organizer in digital format (mp3, on a USB pen drive) during the Accreditation stage. At that same time, participants shall also declare the full name of the choreographer of the piece they will present. Couples may present different choreographies in the different stages of the competition.
In the corresponding stages, each couple shall dance only once. Couples in the Tango de Pista category shall be distributed into several rounds according to the number of registered participants. In the Tango Escenario category, each couple shall compete individually.

Couples may be disqualified if they:
a) fail to comply with the provisions of applicable regulations;
b) make, during the course of the competition and by any means, any political or religious statements that could be offensive to the public or the Organizer, or that could affect the development of the event;
c) engage in any unethical behavior or improper act that could tarnish the image of the Preliminary Round and/or the 2026 World Dance Championship, or cause displeasure to the public;
d) carry out, within or in connection with the competition, inside or outside its premises, any act of physical and/or verbal aggression against any person, whether a participant, judge, staff member, or member of the general public.
In the event of any of the above, the Organizer and the DGFyNC may, by mutual agreement, determine the disqualification or removal of the couple from the competition.

In both categories, the jury shall be composed of a minimum of four (4) judges who, having read and accepted the competition regulations — and undertaking to comply with them — shall assign the scores to the participating couples. These judges shall be appointed by mutual agreement between the Organizer of the Preliminary Round and the DGFyNC.
All decisions of the judges shall be final and may not be appealed. By the mere act of registering, participants accept this condition. In case of any doubt or disagreement, the concerned party may submit a written statement (in Spanish or in English) to the ORGANIZER, and NOT directly to the judges.
Any judge who has maintained an employment and/or personal relationship, or has been a teacher of any participant in the Championship during a period of at least six (6) months prior to the date of the competition, shall abstain from scoring that participant. For this purpose, both the voluntary declarations of the judges and the information provided by the participants when completing the registration form shall be taken into account. In such cases, the Organizer may either appoint an alternate judge or determine the couple’s final score based on the average obtained from the number of judges who did cast their votes. The total of the judges’ scores shall be added and then divided by the number of judges who effectively voted.
The score for each performance shall result from the accumulation of the points awarded by each judge, using the following scoring ranges for each stage: Qualifying rounds, 5 to 8; Semifinal, 6 to 9; and Final, 8 to 10. The final score shall be the average of the scores awarded by the judges. Couples whose average score places them within the highest 50% in each stage shall advance to the next stage.
The Organizer may grant prizes and special mentions for second and third place, and may issue other mentions as it deems appropriate.
In exceptional cases (such as power outages, incidents on stage, etc.), the judges, together with the Observer, may determine that the competitors shall dance additional tangos in order to reach a fair vote, and the participants may not refuse to do so.
In the event of a tie for first place in the Final, the tied couples shall break the tie by either dancing one (1) or two (2) additional tangos in the Tango de Pista category, or by performing their choreography again in the Tango Escenario category, until the judges’ vote produces a champion couple.The scores obtained by each couple during the competition shall be made public after each stage has concluded.
In the event of a tie between second and third place in the Final, the judges shall deliberate and decide which couple shall be awarded each place.

The Observer shall be appointed by the DGFyNC and shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with these regulations. The Observer shall also duly resolve any unforeseen circumstances that may arise within the framework of the competition and shall establish or communicate any clarifying or interpretative rules deemed necessary.
If any claim or complaint is submitted by a participant or a judge, it shall be reported to the Observer, within the framework of the competition. The decision on such matter shall be made jointly by the Observer, the institutional representative of the Ministry of Culture, and the Organizer of the Preliminary Round.

1. TANGO DE PISTA (OPEN TO AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONALS)
Tango de Pista shall be understood as a social dance, where the most important elements are improvisation, the embrace, and the connection between the members of the couple. Couples registered in the Tango de Pista category shall dance in rounds, and, as on a social dance floor, they shall move continuously in a counterclockwise direction, without stepping backward.
During the round, each couple shall remain aware of and respect their own space and that of the other participants, so as not to hinder the harmony of circulation on the dance floor.
Once formed, the couple shall not separate while the music is playing. For the position to be considered correct, the body of one partner shall be contained at all times within the embrace of the other, understanding that — in certain figures — this embrace may be elastic. All movements and figures shall be executed within the space allowed by the embrace between the members of the couple, so as not to interfere with the surrounding couples. All figures commonly used in social tango may be performed — including barridas, sacadas al piso, enrosques, lápices, ganchos, boleos, etc. — as well as the use of embellishments, provided they are kept within the couple’s own space and do not invade or obstruct the space of surrounding couples.
Leaps, figures in which both feet lose contact with the floor, and any choreographic elements typical of Tango Escenario shall be completely excluded. The Judges shall give particular consideration to each couple’s personal interpretation of the different styles. They shall take into account the musicality, circulation on the floor, style, embrace, communication and connection within the couple, and the pursuit of a personal identity by varying dynamics and speed in relation to the tango being danced, while respecting its interpretation.
Attire shall not be considered a parameter of evaluation, but participants are encouraged to appear with a neat and presentable appearance. Couples are reminded that, in choosing their clothing, hairstyle, and makeup, they should bear in mind that Tango de Pista is a social dance and not a stage performance.
2. TANGO ESCENARIO (OPEN TO AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONALS)
Each couple shall give an individual performance with a freely chosen tango, which shall not exceed four (4) minutes in duration. In the event of a problem during the choreography, it shall be up to the couple to continue, and the Judges shall evaluate how they resolve the issue; the performance may not be repeated. In the event of a technical problem, the Organizer together with the Judges shall decide whether the choreography may be repeated at the end of the assigned time block.
Couples may dance according to their own artistic vision of Argentine Tango, and for this reason may include movements, figures, and elements not directly related to traditional tango. In evaluating the participants, the Judges shall consider the following aspects:
- Choreographic composition.
- Musicality.
- Creativity.
Dance: interpretation, precision, clarity, and fluidity of movement, as well as command of tango-specific dance techniques.
- Costuming. The embrace may be broken, and techniques from other dance disciplines may be incorporated, provided they are justified and contribute to the performer’s presentation. Aerial tricks and other movements from non-tango dances shall not be excessive, meaning they shall not exceed one-third of the total performance. AUDIOVISUAL AND PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING
The Organizer of the Preliminary Round shall record all stages of the Championship, using any known or future format, including, without limitation, filming, audio recording, photography, and digitization, either directly or through third parties authorized for this purpose, in order to promote and disseminate the event. The Organizer of the Preliminary Round shall then send this material to the DGFyNC.
By registering in the Championship, participants grant their express and irrevocable authorization for the use of the recordings made, without such use implying or being interpreted as implying any obligation of payment of any kind by the Organizer of the Preliminary Round and/or the DGFNC to any person or organization claiming rights over their image. This clause also includes, without limitation, photographic material that is published and/or made available for promotion, advertising, etc.

The organizer is obligated to record all stages of the competition (video, photos, audio) and submit the materials to DGFyNC.
Registration of participants constitutes consent to the use of their images for advertising, informational, and promotional purposes without monetary compensation.

Each official category shall have one winning couple or champion couple, who shall automatically qualify to compete in the TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 in the corresponding stages. In the case of Tango de Pista, if the category has forty (40) or more couples, the winning couple shall qualify directly to the Semifinal stage; otherwise, they shall qualify to the Quarterfinal stage. In the case of Tango Escenario, if the category has twenty (20) or more couples, the champion couple shall qualify directly to the Semifinal stage; otherwise, they shall qualify to the Quarterfinal stage of the TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026. The winners of both categories of the European Championship and the Asian Championship shall qualify directly to the Final.
All winners shall represent the PRELIMINARY ROUND in which they won first place, and not their city of origin or residence, without exception.
The first prize in each category shall be the responsibility of THE ORGANIZER and shall consist of full coverage of the travel and accommodation costs of both members of the couple, including airfares from each dancer’s city of residence to the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, visa fees or travel taxes, meals, lodging, and local transportation during the days in which the couple competes in the stages of the TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND DANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026, and for as long as the couple remains in competition.
It shall be the obligation of THE ORGANIZER to guarantee by all necessary means the presence and participation of the winning couple in the above-mentioned stages.
The Organizer may establish other additional prizes. All contestants shall receive a certificate of participation, which may be sent in digital format.
Couples who win in Preliminary Rounds held in Europe and Asia may participate in the Final of the European and Asian Championships; this option is not mandatory.
If the couple that wins in any of the official categories renounces their participation in the TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 representing their PRELIMINAY ROUND, they shall automatically also renounce the prize consisting of full coverage of travel and accommodation costs in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, and both members of the couple shall be disqualified from participating in the TANGO BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026.
If one or both categories lose their official status for not having the required minimum number of couples, the Organizer of the PRELIMINARY ROUND may choose to offer alternative prizes for the competition, but shall be exempt from awarding the winning couple with full coverage of travel and accommodation costs in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
The registration and subsequent accreditation of each couple in the competition shall imply full knowledge and acceptance of these Regulations by each of the participants.