TAP AHEAD Festival

Germany's Premier Tap Dance Festival

TAP AHEAD is the most important tap dance festival in German-speaking countries, celebrating its 29th edition in May 2026. For four days — from Thursday, May 14th to Sunday, May 17th, 2026 — tanzhaus NRW in Düsseldorf brings together the best of the international tap dance scene: performances, workshops, a gala, and a vibrant atmosphere full of rhythm, joy, and creativity. Artistic Director: Daniel Luka.

tanzhaus NRW — Home of Contemporary Dance

tanzhaus NRW at Erkrather Straße 30 in Düsseldorf is one of the most important venues for contemporary dance in Germany — with its own Grand Hall, studios, and a year-round workshop program. TAP AHEAD is its most significant annual festival format and Germany's premier tap dance event.

The 2026 Headliners

• Thomas Marek with “Footprints” — a “dance concert” that combines tap, jazz standards, and improvisation with pianist Patrick Bebelaar and bassist Jan Roder. Tap dance as an improvisational instrument in a jazz trio.
• Leela Petronio — the French tap dance legend, pioneer of the Urban Tap style, blending tap and hip-hop.
• Avalon Rathgeb with the solo debut “Unbound” — the festival opens with this contemporary solo work exploring “questions of identity — artistic, sexual, gender-specific” through tap.
• Josh Hilberman — the US master stepper from Boston, one of the most important teachers in the international tap scene.

The Saturday Gala — May 16th, 2026

The annual highlight is the TAP AHEAD Gala on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, in the Grand Hall of tanzhaus NRW. The gala celebrates the best of tap dance art with international performers in a show lasting around three hours — one stage, many solo acts, duos, trios. Tickets available via reservix.de.

Over 20 Workshops

Besides the performances, TAP AHEAD is primarily a workshop festival: over 20 workshops across the four days, led by the headliners and an international team of instructors. Workshops for beginners, intermediates, and professionals — from classic Broadway tap to contemporary Urban Tap.

Tap Dance in Germany

Tap dance has had a growing scene in Germany since the 1990s — shaped by festivals like TAP AHEAD and pioneers such as Thomas Marek and Sebastian Weber. The festival is an important hub where German tap dancers connect with the international scene from the USA, France, Australia, and Japan.