Held at the Pavillon Noir in Aix-en-Provence from March 8 to 19, 2026, the European Junior Ballets Meeting is aimed at young dancers aged 18 to 22 who are still in training. Following a first edition in 2024, Ballet Preljocaj is renewing this major European initiative dedicated to artistic transmission, professional development, and career integration.

Designed as a key moment for sharing and exchange, the event brings together young dancers, companies, choreographers, educators, programmers, and venue directors through a rich program of talks, masterclasses, workshops, and performances. The aim is to build a supportive and structured network that serves the next generation of contemporary dance professionals. This project responds to the need for a more structured transition phase between training and professional life, while fostering the emergence of an open, engaged, and collaborative European artistic community.

The meeting is part of the Ballet Preljocaj Junior (BPJ) program, which each year offers 10 young dancers an 11-month training and professionalization course.

Key milestones of the new edition include:
– April 26–27, 2025: auditions to select the 10 dancers for the BPJ 2025–2026 cohort
– September 2025 – July 2026: professional training and career development for young dancers
– March 8–19, 2026: 2nd edition of the European Junior Ballets Meeting

By supporting this 2nd edition, the Francis Kurkdjian Endowment Fund fosters a unifying project that bridges the gap between training and career, reimagines the codes of the European youth dance scene, and nurtures openness, sharing, and solidarity within a profoundly human artistic community.