The Empress Ballroom is massive and provides the perfect setting for the World Dance Championships. In the early years the contests were in Standard (formally known as Ballroom) dances only. Over the years Latin American Championships have been added and Formation Dancing has been a feature in both styles. The explosion of interest has seen the introduction of Championships for all ages - from less than 12 years, 12-16 years, 16-21 years, and for couples over the age of 35. Entries in the main Amateur Championship approach six hundred couples and in the Professional section three to four hundred couples. There are couples from around fifty different nations taking part and the number of countries sending couples grows each year as the worldwide growth in dance sport continues.

The task of organizing The Festival is under the direction of Gillian Mackenzie and it runs without interruption throughout the year. On one occasion The Championships were shown on television but it was found to offer too much interruption to the dance program, which on some days started at 10.00 a.m. and finished the following morning at 2.00 a.m.! For the last few years Quasar Video Productions have recorded the semi-final and final rounds of the main Championships enabling many enthusiasts around the World, who can not attend The Festival, to see The Finest Dancers in the World in The Finest Championships in the World on Videocassette in the comfort of their own homes. On the first page of the official program there are these words "The Worlds First and Foremost Festival of Dancing". The world agrees that Blackpool is The Greatest Festival, and that the competitions held there are the "Championships of the World." Dancers invited to compete are the Very Best Dancers in the World, and those who win are the Best of the Best and truly "Champions of the World."