General Guidelines

The Organization Team reserves the right to modify the rules, schedule, or format of the competition in response to unforeseen circumstances or other valid reasons. Additionally, the team retains the rights to record and photograph all championship activities and use this material for promotional purposes through any medium. Participants must request permission from the Organization Team before using such materials independently.

All participants are required to attend official ceremonies, promotional events, photo sessions, and other activities related to the competition. Winners (top six couples in each category) are also expected to participate in these events after the championship concludes.

Registration Details

Participants must complete the online registration and payment process no later than February 15, 2025. This deadline may be extended at the discretion of the Organization Team. Additionally, all participants must be present for in-person check-in on March 14, 2025, at the Pullman Convention Center in Istanbul, where they will receive their competition numbers and final instructions.

Registration is open to couples of any nationality, with participants required to be at least 18 years old. If both dancers in a couple share the same nationality, they will represent that country. Mixed-nationality couples may choose which country to represent but can only represent one country.

Each participant may register for one competition per category but is allowed to compete in multiple categories with the same or different partners. Passports or official ID must be presented at the check-in stage, and false declarations or unauthorized registrations will result in disqualification.

Competition Rules Tango de Pista (Salon Tango)

This category emphasizes the improvisational nature of traditional Argentine tango, focusing on musicality, embrace, connection, harmony, and creativity.

• Couples will compete in group rounds, dancing to two or three songs selected by the Organization Team. Songs within each group will belong to the same orchestra.

• Couples must maintain the embrace throughout the dance and respect the counterclockwise flow of the dance floor, avoiding collisions or disruptions to other couples.

• Permissible figures include sacadas, ganchos, barridas, pasadas, enrosques, colgadas, volcadas, and boleos (no higher than hip level). Lifts, jumps, and soltadas (breaking the embrace) are strictly prohibited.

Judging Criteria

The jury, comprising 5–9 international experts, will assess competitors based on:

• Tango de Pista: Musicality, embrace, connection, posture, and creativity in improvisation. Any disruptions or rule violations (e.g., breaking the embrace, moving backward unnecessarily) will result in penalties or disqualification.

• Tango Escenario: Execution, creativity, use of traditional tango elements, and overall artistic expression.

The jury's decisions are final and cannot be appealed. No jury member may have a business relationship with competitors within three months prior to the event.

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Competition Format

Tango de Pista

• Preliminary Rounds: Couples compete in groups, dancing two or three songs. A set number of couples will advance to subsequent rounds based on jury scores.

• Finals: The top six couples will perform one song, selected randomly, in an individual showcase.

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Registration Fees and Deadlines

Participation fees and additional details are available on the official website: www.tangotoistanbul.com. Contestants must also download the Inndance App for real-time updates, announcements, and organizational changes.

Prizes

Tango Pro
1st place: €1,500 + invitation as maestros to the 2026 festival
2nd place: €1,000
3rd place: €500

All finalists will receive trophies and additional prizes from sponsors, while all participants will receive a certificate of participation.

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1st place: €1,500 + invitation as maestros to the 2026 festival
2nd place: €1,000
3rd place: €500

All finalists will receive trophies and additional prizes from sponsors, while all participants will receive a certificate of participation.

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1st place: €1,500 + invitation as maestros to the 2026 festival
2nd place: €1,000
3rd place: €500

All finalists will receive trophies and additional prizes from sponsors, while all participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Ethical Conduct and Disqualification

The Organization Team reserves the right to disqualify participants for:

• Failing to adhere to competition rules

• Engaging in disrespectful or unethical behavior

• Making defamatory statements about the competition before, during, or after the event

• Promoting political or religious agendas during the festival

By registering, participants agree to abide by all terms and conditions, ensuring a fair and r