2026 FLA Open Championship, Pre-Championship, and Pre-Premier Competition

Saturday Pre-Premier, Premier Pre-Championship & Florida Open Championship April 11, 2026, 7:30AM-5:00PM

Organizers: Lindsey Mallon & Mary Recknagel

Contact email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Ajudicators: Gail Bacon, Catherine MacLeod, and Loraine Waddell

Pipers: Daniel Carr & Stanton Man

Pre Premier & Premier Pre-Championship competition begins at 8:00AM, Florida Open Championship to follow lunch approximately 12:30 PM;

Spectator ticket link: 58th Annual Dunedin Highland Games Tickets, Sat, Apr 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite

Please refer to the official rues for competition at www.scotdanceusa.com

Address: Dunedin Community Center, 1920 Pinehurst Road Dunedin, Florida 34698

Event held rain or shine

NEW for 2026: ALL DANCERS will receive an Entry Ticket and Participant Ribbon via US Mail. Any Non-US dancer registered after March 15, 2026 will need to pick up their Entry Ticket and Participant Ribbon at Will Call.

Competition will take place inside the Dunedin Community Center in Edinburgh Hall. Chairs will be provided, please refrain from bringing your personal chairs. Spectators and competitors may enter Edinburgh Hall at 7:00 AM. Please see below "Restrictions" for rules & regulations.

Entries must be received on or before 11:00 PM, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, NO EXCEPTIONS

#SE-FL 409

2026 Florida Open Championship and Dunedin Highland Games Highland Dance Competition held in Dunedin, Florida on Saturday, April 11, 2026

Competition venue guidelines and regulations must be followed.

Championship award money

21 & Over, 18 & Over, 16 & U18

1st: $40, 2nd: $35, 3rd: $30, 4th: $25, 5th: $15, 6th: $10

14 & U16, 12 & U14, 10 & U12, 7 & U 10

1st: $35, 2nd: $30, 3rd: $25, 4th: $20, 5th: $15, 6th: $10

Championship Dancer of the Day trophy will be awarded on points, minimum of 6 dancers in group

Pre-Championship award money

1st: $25, 2nd: $20, 3rd: $15, 4th: $10, 5th: $5, 6th: $5

Pre Premier Awards: Most Promising Beginner, Most Promising Novice, Most Promising Intermediate

Photos by Charley Street, StreetLife Photography

Accommodations

Dunedin is the Spring Training Home of the Toronto Blue Jays, and most of the hotels book up very quickly. We are in close proximity to Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs to the North, and Clearwater to the South. Listed below are a few Dunedin hotels.
The Fenway Hotel, 453 Edgewater Drive fenwayhotel.com (844) 569-9879

Holiday Inn Express, 975 Broadway (727) 450-1200

Hampton Inn, 2641 Michael Place (727) 733-1400

Beso del Sol Resort, 1420 Bayshore Boulevard (727) 734-8851

Palm Court Motel, 2090 Bayshore Blvd (727) 736-0441

Amberlea Motel, 1035 Broadway, (727) 733-3228

Coconut Villas, Woodette & St. Joseph’s Drive on the Dunedin Causeway, (866) 450-0708

Best Western Plus Yacht Harbor Inn, 150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin (727) 733-4121

Traveling with an RV? Check out the Blue Moon Inn & RV Resort only about a mile from Highlander Park on US Alt 19 in Dunedin

Other attractions:

Caladesi Island State Park located

REGISTRATION

Pre-Premier & Premier Pre-Championship category registration 7:30 AM - 7:50 AM

Florida Open Championship-Premier Registration approximately 11:30 AM

RULES & REGULATIONS:

● RSOBHD rules will govern all events and trophies.

● Each dancer must present a valid 2026 ScotDance or RSOBHD Registration card. Pre-Premier cards will be collected and returned during awards.

● A Pre-Championship Premier dancer is one who has not won Premier Championship or Pre-Championship. Dancers may enter both the Pre-Championship & Florida Open Championship.

● Dancers must be in appropriate costume to receive awards.

● Dancers entering first will dance last. Dancers must be ready and appear when called or forfeit the chance to dance in that event.

● Proof of age must be provided if requested. Age applies as of April 11, 2026.

● Age groups will be determined or adjusted as needed by entries received by due date.

● The adjudicator’s decision is final.

● Medals/ribbons and trophies will be awarded in all Pre-Premier sections except Primary where medals/ribbons only will be awarded.

● Three-Month Rule – Judges may not adjudicate any competitor that they have instructed (may not have taken any classes, Skype lessons, workshops, etc. with the judge) for a period of three months. If a competitor has entered a competition with a judge, they have attended a class or workshop within the last three months, the dancer must step down from the competition.

● The organizer reserves the right to add or remove events from the schedule and make other changes as long as its action is within the scope of RSOBHD rules and is, in its judgment in the best interest of the event.

● Entries must be received on or before 11:00 PM, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, NO EXCEPTIONS

● No field entries will be accepted.

● All fees must be in US Currency.

SORRY, NO REFUNDS.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

7:30 to 7:50 AM - PRIMARY, BEGINNER, NOVICE, INTERMEDIATE, AND PREMIER PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP REGISTRATION

8:00 AM- PRE-PREMIER AND PREMIER PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION BEGINS

APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AM - PREMIER FLORIDA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP REGISTRATION

APPROXIMATELY 12:30 PM - PREMIER CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS

SATURDAY DANCES

Primary - 16 pdb, 6 pdb/4 highcuts (4), fling (4), sword (2&1)

Beginner and Novice - Fling (4), Sword (2&1), Triubhas (3&1), 1/2 Tulloch

Intermediate and Premier Pre-Championship - Fling (4), Sword (2&1), Triubhas (3&1), Strathspey & Half Tulloch

Championship (7&U12) Fling (4), Sword (2&1), Triubhas (3&1), Strathspey & Half Tulloch

Championship (12&U14) (14&U16) (16&U18) (18&U21) (21&O) Fling (6), Sword (3&1), Triubhas (4&2), Strathspey & Half Tulloch

Photo Credit StreetLife Photography, Charley Street

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Dunedin Scottish Arts Foundation