Feis weekend information
The fifth annual Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships will take place April 25 & 26, 2026. CLRG grade exams will also be held on April 24, 2026. The ACIDC will be held in the heart of downtown Halifax and will consist of two, full-syllabus feiseanna at the spectacular Westin Nova Scotian. The ACIDC are run in partnership with Rising Tide Irish Dance Academy.
Saturday 2025 feis photos: Album 1, Album 2
Sunday 2025 feis photos: see Facebook
SCHEDULE AND ONLINE PROGRAM
Details for 2026 TBC.
REGISTRATION & MERCHANDISE
Registration for the 2026 Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships is on iFeis.net. For full details, download the syllabus.
Important dates
Early bird contest deadline: February 22, 2026
Late fees apply: March 22, 2026
Last day to register: April 10, 2026
Merchandise
Are you ready to “seas the day” at the ACIDC this year? This year’s official feis merch is now on sale. To guarantee your preferred sizes and colours, complete your order by February 25. Limited stock will be available for sale at the feis. All pre-orders will be available for pickup at the venue on feis weekend.
Shop now at https://stores.inksoft.com/atlantic_canadian_irish_dance_c/shop/home.
Each year’s design is unique, so grab your 2026 design before it’s too late!
GRADE EXAMS
Grade exams P-12 will be held during the daytime on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Rising Tide Irish Dance Academy’s studio (note this is not the feis venue). For questions related to grade exams, contact Maggie Chapman.
Applications for grades one through 10 are now open and will be accepted until Feb. 28, 2026 or sooner if capacity is reached. To apply, please complete our online form. Please note that the payment link defaults to a quantity of one for all exam levels (appearing to charge $120); change quantities to zero for levels not being taken, or increase if taking more than one at that price level. Our exams generally sell out so please apply early to guarantee your space. Additional details about the exam session and payment requirements etc. can be found in the online form.
Applications for grades 11 and 12 are now closed.
Candidates for grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 will be provided with music for contemporary sets. Candidates must provide their tunes and speeds to irishdancemaggie@gmail.com no later than April 17, 2026.
SOCIAL EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS
Details for 2026 TBC.
Venue & Accommodation
The Atlantic Canadian Irish Dance Championships will be held at the historic and prestigious, The Westin Nova Scotian. Part of the Marriott family of hotels, the Westin is located in the heart of downtown Halifax with popular amenities located just outside the front door. Along with the convenience of staying at the feis venue, guests will enjoy the newly renovated event space at the hotel, offering the perfect layout for a championship weekend.
The arranged room rate for 2026 is $172/night. Book online or call +1 902-421-1000 by March 24, 2026 to stay at the Westin. Please note that attendees are not required to stay in the block to attend the event.
Please be aware that outside food and beverage are not allowed on the competition level of the venue. But not to worry, we will ensure food and beverage options are available for purchase onsite for attendees. The Westin is also located in the heart of downtown Halifax and there are many food amenities within close range if guests prefer to eat offsite.
Adjudicators & musicians
Adjudicators
TBC for 2026.
Musicians
TBC for 2026.
VENDORS
Details for 2026 are TBC. The vendor list from 2025 is below.
Feis Glam (preferred vendor)
Sandra’s Irish Dance Shop
F Bombs and Fairytales
MLR Creations
The Pearl
Dina’s Treats
Linda Angus
If you are interested in vending at our feiseanna please review our vendor package or contact us at acidchamps@gmail.com.
Volunteer with us
One of the critical elements of running feiseanna is volunteers. Thank you for contributing your time to make this event happen for the dancers and musicians competing. A volunteer sign-up list will be shared closer to the 2026 feiseanna.
Sponsors and donors
Running feiseanna requires the support of many and it simply cannot be done alone. Thank you to the following sponsors and donors for contributing to the success of our 2025 event, and to the dancing journeys of so many. Want to learn more about how you can support local dancers and our feiseanna? Visit our supporters page at risingtideacademy.ca/feis.
ACIDC is proud to be supported by Halifax Regional Council and Halifax Regional Municipality. Their annual contribution through the Regional Special Events Grant helps us create a meaningful, high-quality event for dancers, families, and visitors alike. We are truly thankful for their ongoing commitment to our community and to the arts.
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors of all levels:
- Ruth Smith
- O’Regan Family
- Chapman Family
- Brightwood Golf & Country Club
- Feistographer
- Sarah Fancy
- Lisa O’Driscoll
Additional support for the 2025 ACIDC came from donors of funds and items from trophies to kettles, more than 100 volunteers, fundraising families and friends, and some great vendors and community partners. Thank you to those who went above and beyond to share their expertise, resources and time to make our feiseanna successful! Special shout-out to the families of Rising Tide for your contributions and pride in this event.
Contact us
Email: acidchamps@gmail.com
Email for volunteers: acidcvolunteers@gmail.com
Website: www.risingtideacademy.ca/acidc
Supporter website: www.risingtideacademy.ca/feis
Facebook: www.facebook.com/acidcfeis
Instagram: www.instagram.com/acidcfeis