Bachata Obsesión Melbourne Festival 2026: what to know before 12 November
Five days of bachata workshops and late socials at Melbourne City Ballroom, with Luis & Andrea from Spain and Jerem & Jade from France. Schedule, passes and how to get ready.
By Latinhood newsroom4 Nov 20263 min read
If bachata is your thing, the second week of November in Melbourne is already booked. Bachata Obsesión Melbourne Festival takes over the Melbourne City Ballroom from Thursday 12 to Monday 16 November 2026, with workshops during the day and socials that run until 3am.
The organisers have spent seven years running classes, socials and weekenders for Melbourne's dance scene. They call this their most ambitious event so far, and the line-up backs that up.
Who is teaching
Two international couples are confirmed.
Luis & Andrea are flying in from Spain for their first time in Melbourne. They are known for a romantic, technical style of bachata sensual, and the organisers describe them as one of the top couples in the world over the last ten years.
Jerem & Jade are coming to Australia for the first time, from France via Brazil. Their thing is BachaZouk, the mix of bachata and Brazilian zouk that has been growing fast on social floors.
There are also workshops from other international and Australian artists, from open level up to intermediate-advanced. On top of the classes, the festival promises themed parties, competitions and performances.
The schedule
The venue is on Level 3, 673 Bourke St, in the middle of the CBD, with plenty of hotels within a few minutes' walk. Here is the published program:
- Thursday 12: pre-party with two workshops at 7pm, then social from 9pm to midnight.
- Friday 13: registration from 5pm to 6:45pm, two workshops at 7pm, social from 9pm to 3am.
- Saturday 14: six workshops from 11am to 5pm, two more at 7pm, social from 9pm to 3am.
- Sunday 15: six workshops from 11am to 5pm, two more at 7pm, social from 9pm to 2am.
If you only want the dancing at night, check the ticket page for party-only options before you buy a full pass.
Passes
At the time of writing, the Eventbrite page lists full passes at $295 until 7 November. There is also a "Besties" deal: two full passes (Friday to Sunday) for $550, limited to 20. You do not need to be a couple or a lead and follow pair to claim it. The organisers share the promo code OBSESION for a discount on full passes and Besties passes. Prices can change, so confirm on the official listing.
Warm up before the festival
Five days of workshops is a lot if you have not danced in a while. A few Melbourne schools in our directory run regular bachata classes:
- Bachata ConeXion runs Wednesday classes at 497 Queensberry St, North Melbourne.
- Salsa and Bachata - Cortés Dance teaches in Caulfield North.
- David Smile Dance covers salsa, kizomba and bachata in Melbourne and Geelong.
And if the festival leaves you wanting more, The Salsa Foundation runs a free beginners bachata class in the CBD on Tuesday 24 November at 6pm. You can find it, plus every other social in town, on our events page.
Tips for the weekend
- Bring two or three pairs of dance shoes and a change of shirt. Socials until 3am are long.
- Eat properly between the day workshops and the night program. The CBD has plenty of options, and you can browse Latin spots in our directory.
- Book accommodation early. The festival is pitching itself to dancers from all over Australia and overseas, and CBD hotels fill up.
See you on the floor.
Sources
Cover photo: "Bachata dip" by Salsauom, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
