Press Release
The world's best Phygital Dancing athletes will make their way to Astana this summer, competing for a prize pool of US$75K.
Dubai, UAE - June 18, 2026: The Games of the Future (GOTF) has confirmed that Just Dance is coming back for the 2026 edition. The announcement sees one of the world’s most beloved dance titles return to the phygital stage, where competitors must master both physical movement and digital precision in one of sport's most unique competitive formats.
Scheduled to take place from 6 August to 7 August at the Barys Arena, within the wider Games running from 29 July to 9 August, Phygital Dancing will see top players compete for a USD $75,000 prize pool. Designed for both live audiences and broadcast, the competition blends music, movement, and gameplay into a high-energy spectator experience.
The Games of the Future 2026 is now less than two months away and the Phygital Dancing field is starting to come together. Mokonanye Angelo, Franco Vitali, Dion Visser and Daniil Charapko have each locked in their place for the final showdown in Astana, securing direct qualification through their performance rankings at Phygital Rivals tournaments held throughout the 2025/26 Season. Four of the six remaining spots were decided at Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana, which took place from 10 to 14 June. Andres Guardo claimed the title, with Sagdi finishing as runner-up, Susan Huertas in third and Sergio Mayta in fourth – all securing qualification for the Games of the Future 2026. The final two qualification spots will be determined by overall rankings and confirmed in the coming weeks.
With millions of players worldwide, Just Dance has built a passionate global community spanning casual fans, competitive players, and content creators. That community sits at the heart of Phygital Dancing, where top competitors combine technical precision with personality, style, and stage presence. As a core discipline at the Games of the Future, it continues to grow as a fan favorite, with recognizable tracks, dynamic gameplay, and full-body performance creating a format that is easy to follow, but difficult to master, delivering a competition that is as entertaining as it is competitive.
William Al-Badeesh, Publisher Relations & IP Licensing Lead at Phygital International, said: "What I remember most from Abu Dhabi is walking through the venue and noticing groups of people stopping in the middle of the hall - not because they planned to, but because something caught their attention. When you got closer, it was Phygital Dancing. That kind of organic crowd pull is something you can't manufacture. Just Dance brings energy to the floor that's impossible to ignore, and it's exactly the kind of experience we want to build the Games of the Future around. Astana is going to take that to another level."
Natalie Williams, Ubisoft Director of Export, said: “We are delighted that Just Dance returns to the main stage at Games of the Future 2026. It consistently draws crowds at every event with its unbridled joy and energy, and it will be an exciting showcase of international dancers competing for the ultimate prize in a high-level sporting environment.”
Phygital Dancing is one of eight disciplines confirmed for the Games of the Future 2026, which will bring together more than 800 participants from over 50 nationalities. Set to take place in Astana from 29 July to 9 August, the event is expected to welcome over 100,000 fans across its venues. The inclusion of Phygital Dancing highlights the growing diversity of the competition, bringing rhythm, performance, and precision to the global phygital stage.
Adding to the festival atmosphere that defines the Games of the Future, Comic Con Astana (5–9 August) will also take place alongside GOTF 2026, bringing together global communities across gaming, pop culture and digital entertainment, making Astana the ultimate destination for fans of competition, culture and entertainment this summer.
Further details on participating teams, qualification pathways, and broadcast information will be available soon on the official GOTF Phygital Dancing web page. Fans can also relive the action from previous editions via Phygital+, Phygital International’s dedicated Direct-to-Consumer platform.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Looking to cover upcoming phygital sport events?
Media interested in the Games of the Future 2026, as well as Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana, can now complete the first stage of the accreditation process.
About Phygital International (PI):
Phygital International is the promoter of phygital sports globally and is focused on innovating and redefining sports. It is the custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future and oversees the bidding process for each host city.
For further information please visit https://phygitalinternational.com or contact us at: press@phygitalinternational.com
About the Games of the Future (GOFT):
The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 were held in Abu Dhabi while the Games of the Future 2026, will be held in Astana.
For more information please visit: https://gofuture.games/
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2025–26 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1.53 billion.
About Just Dance
Launched in 2009, Just Dance is the award winning music video game franchise that has become a global phenomenon, bringing people together through approachable, joyful movement and chart topping music. As one of the most successful dance game franchises of all time, Just Dance has engaged more than 80 million players worldwide, alongside more than 12.3 billion views on YouTube. Turning any space into a shared experience, Just Dance makes it easy to connect, laugh, and create lasting memories while celebrating music, self expression, and inclusivity for players of all ages and skill levels.
