Dance Marathon will raise the tent once again for charity

This spring, Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) will return to its roots when the famed white tent comes back to campus. After a brief stint inside Welsh-Ryan Arena while construction transformed Norris University Center and the newly reimagined Cohen Lawn, NUDM is reclaiming its home outside the student center.

NUDM 2026 will take place the weekend of April 3 and 4 in the tent outside Norris, beginning Friday evening and continuing for 15 high-energy, purpose-driven hours.

“Bringing NUDM back to campus means a lot to us as an organization,” said Will Kosann, NUDM’s Operations Director. “Only seniors remember what it was like dancing in the tent, so for most of campus the experience will be completely new. It gives students a great opportunity to create new traditions, bonds and memories.”

Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is NUDM’s 2026 primary benefactor. The Chicago-based nonprofit provides holistic, family-centered support to children battling cancer and their families, addressing emotional, financial, psychosocial and educational challenges that accompany a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

Now in its 52nd year, Northwestern Dance Marathon remains one of the largest independent student-run philanthropies in the country. Since its founding, NUDM has raised more than $23 million through yearlong fundraising and service campaigns that culminate in the marathon, where hundreds of student dancers come together to celebrate the power of collective action.

Students interested in participating can register online.  Students who receive any amount of financial aid may register for free; otherwise, the cost to dance is $25.