36th Annual Folk Ball Festival

Come to the 36th Annual Folk Ball Festival - January 23-25, 2026 in the UW Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street! Folk Ball is Madison’s largest public participation international dance festival, with two evening dance parties powered by 6 bands and a full day of workshops. Find up-to-date information, register and donate online, and reserve your optional dinner spot at madfolkball.org. You can also email [email protected].

The evening parties will feature dance music sets by Balkan, Hungarian, Romanian, and Klezmer bands: Orkestar Bez Ime, Yid Vicious, Száska, Orkestar Sloboda, Izvor Orchestra, and special guest band Bulgarika.

The featured Balkan dance instructor will be Lee Otterholt, with additional workshops by regional International Dance leaders.

FRIDAY DANCE PARTY: 7:30-Midnight in Great Hall

SATURDAY WORKSHOPS: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in the Memorial Union

will include Balkan dance workshops, a Bulgarian singing workshop, a brown bag lunch presentation, and more

SATURDAY DINNER: 5:00 – 7:00 pm in Tripp Commons ($20 per person). Register and pay online at madfolkball.org or by email to [email protected]

SATURDAY LEGENDARY FOLK DANCE PARTY: 7:00 pm – Midnight in Great Hall

SUNDAY REVIEW: 10:30 am – Noon in Memorial Union's Festival Room

Folk Ball is funded by your GENEROUS DONATIONS. Come and go freely, but please donate online or bring CASH, CHECK or CREDIT CARD. Give as you can! Make one full-weekend donation at the Info Table in Great Hall (checks to “Narodno International Dancers Incorporated ”) or donate at each event you attend.

Thank you to our sponsors: WORT 89.9 Community -Sponsored Radio, Wisconsin Folk Arts Association, Madison Folk Dance Club, UW Center for Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures, Nancy Yugo Memorial Fund.

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Host or Publisher Madison Folkdance Club