Half Moon Sword Ale

February 14-15 2026 will be the 40th Annual New York Sword Dance Festival! The event will feature ten performing troupes from across the northeastern U.S. in an exciting weekend of performances in public spaces in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The Festival, which started in 1986, is the oldest and first event in North America to focus on English-style sword dancing.

Performances will include lively, energetic rapper dancing, mystical, stately longsword dancing, and other related traditions, accompanied by live folk music. You can expect to see percussive stepping, swords woven into intricate stars and patterns, jumps and maybe even flips! All performances are free and family-friendly. All participating teams will perform at the Opening Showcase at Speyer Hall and the Grand Finale at the Brooklyn Waldorf School. The other performances will each feature 3-4 teams.

Visit our Events page to view videos of performances from past years, or click on the links under "participating teams" below to learn more about the performers

SCHEDULE FOR THE 40th NEW YORK SWORD DANCE FESTIVAL

Saturday, February 14th, 2026

10:00 a.m.

OPENING SHOWCASE

Speyer Hall at University Settlement

184 Eldridge Street, Manhattan

1:30 and 3:00 p.m.

Park Slope Library

431 Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn

1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Brooklyn Heights Library

286 Cadman Plaza West, Brooklyn

1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Pacific Library

25 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn

SCHEDULE UPDATE: The performances at the Seward Park and Jefferson Market Libraries are CANCELLED. Please join us at newly added performances at the Pacific Branch Library (1:30 pm in addition to 3:30) or the Park Slope Library (3:00pm in addition to 1:30).

SCHEDULE FOR THE 40th NEW YORK SWORD DANCE FESTIVAL

Sunday, February 15th, 2026

12:30 p.m.

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

58 Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn

12:45 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church

124 Henry Street, Brooklyn

12:45 p.m.

Old First Reformed Church

729 Carroll Street, Brooklyn

GRAND FINALE