Planning a 2026 wedding? We’ve put together the top wedding dance trends – our report includes own observations and data, as well as what the wider wedding industry predicts will be HUGE in 2026.

However, it’s vitally important to note, the best and most important trend will always be a song, style or first dance theme that feels authentically YOU. Trends will come and go, but your first dance should be whatever reflects and brings you joy as a couple.

In 2025, songs with lyrical themes of love and commitment really stood out, as well as those of joy and celebration. Timeless romance, retro revival, as well as modern contemporary love songs all featured heavily, as well as ‘growing up’ nostalgia songs from the 2000s. You can get all the inspirational detail and listen to first dance songs for weddings chosen by our real-life couples who married in 2025.

The most popular first dance song of 2025 goes to – Ordinary by Alex Warren! We expect to see Ordinary a lot in 2026 too, as well as:

• Forever And Ever And Always, Ryan Mack
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Frankie Valli
• Belong Together, Mark Ambor
• A Sky Full Of Stars, Coldplay
• Still Into You (First Dance Cover), Isabella Kingston

I was so happy to see that Bridgerton-style weddings are THE biggest trend in the Hitched Trend Report 2026! They are expecting a major Bridgerton Revival, with a staggering 191% year-on-year rise. This is amazing news for first dances in 2026, as the style massively leans on romantic, regency inspired music, of which there are so many fantastic songs – all of which you can find here Bridgerton First Wedding Dance Songs. And in case you were wondering, season 4 launches on Netflix on 29th January 2026!

Across many wedding industry trend reports for 2026, the consensus is that nostalgia is going to be HUGE and reflected in all aspects of wedding styling, throwback fashion and cakes. Therefore, we can say with confidence that 80s, 90s and 00s songs are set to be huge on the dance floor in 2026, with tunes bringing a vibe of new nostalgia.

These true classics and throwback songs were chosen by our real-life couples recently, evoking family memories, old school romance and a sense of timeless romance that suits a milestone moment.

Be My Baby, The Ronettes
L-O-V-E, Nat King Cole
My Girl, The Temptations
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Frankie Valli
Burning Love, Elvis Presley
You Never Can Tell, Chuck Berry

As well as these retro revival songs, by modern artists with old soul style, showing that couples clearly love the warmth of the past without choosing an old recording.

Beyond, Leon Bridges
Until I Found You, Stephen Sanchez
Beautiful Things, Benson Boone
You Are the Best Thing, Ray LaMontagne

The team at Rock My Wedding have announced their predictions for wedding trends in 2026 and I was so pleased to see that Personalised Dancefloors are on the rise! They say that motifs featuring initials or decals of your wedding date create a focal point on the dance floor, which looks incredible. The designs could become a logo on your wedding and also be used in other places, such as the entrance or bar and mirrored in the stationery, menus or on the cake. Check out the Rock My Wedding Trend Report 2026 to see all the trends, with tips on how to personalise each idea. 

Swifties have been choosing Taylor’s songs for their first dances for some time, but it’s all stepped up now that Taylor is engaged to Travis Kelce. The happy couple are wedding planning and are rumoured to marry on 13th June 2026.

Lover, Love Story (Taylor’s Version) and ME! have all been popular with our couples – let see which songs the Swifties ask us to choreograph in 2026! We’re expecting to see Crazier and You Are In Love too.

The First Dance Sweepstake emerged in 2025 and we’re expecting it to be HUGE in 2026. We couldn’t love it more, as it engages your guests with your first dance with a fun game. When it’s actually time to do your first dance, your guests will be full of anticipation and fully focussed. The DJ, singer or master of ceremonies won’t have an issue gaining everyone’s attention, as they’re already interested, having placed their bets earlier in the day! We love this personalised option by Mally’s Crafts.

Back to the Hitched 2026 Wedding Trends report…. their research shows that brides searching for wedding after party dresses are up 50%. We love that couples are choosing to have a second looks for the dance floor. I wonder if brides will choose to do their first dance in their bridal gown or after party dress? Their are pros and cons to both – the photos will look incredible in the bridal gown, but the likelihood is that the after party dress will be more practical for actually dancing in.

The Hitched report is full of fascinating insights, including that after parties themselves have been re-imagined and gone are the days of a dated disco. Celebrity Wedding Planner, Mark Niemierko, told Hitched “The rise of the after party is due to couples realising a wedding day should be a celebration, with it being that area of the day with less formality – yes, perhaps a first dance, but after that – the seating plan is done, the cake is cut, the speeches complete. There’s no more formality, we can finally dance, let our hair down with a dirty martini hand and gorge on some fried chicken and chips! There’s an unplanned spontaneity to the afters, when a day is so perfectly planned like a military parade.”

The Pantone Colour Of The Year wouldn’t normally feature on our wedding dance trends – but we couldn’t not mention it, seeing as it’s called ‘Cloud Dancer’!
If you didn’t know, each year Pantone announces a new colour of the year and it greatly influences designers, fashion, interiors and consumer branding, so it’s something we’re all influenced by, even if we don’t realise it. Pantone describe Cloud Dancer as ‘a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection’. However, if I’m describing it, I’m going to say ‘off-white’ – so I’m not sure how much it will influence the wedding industry in 2026, seeing as wedding dresses are typically that shade, however, we may see it more in the decor, such as table ware and drapes.