Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival at the Pioneer Center
Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival is BACK — and we’re celebrating our 5th anniversary! 🎉
If you missed this incredibly unique and FREE community event last year, now’s your chance to experience the magic! Dog Days of Summer returns for its fifth year the weekend of August 14–16 at the Pioneer Center’s E.L. Cord Plaza.
Join us from 7:30–9:30 p.m. each evening, with seating and food trucks available starting at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy an incredible lineup of performances from local dance companies, cheer on the beloved SPCA-NN alumni during the crowd-favorite Pup Parade, and celebrate five years of bringing together the performing arts, pets, and our community.
The best part? Every performance helps raise awareness and funds to support SPCA-NN’s lifesaving mission to save and improve the lives of homeless pets and the people who love them right here in northern Nevada.
💜 And if you’re planning to join us, don’t forget to bring your Venmo and/or cash! SPCA-NN will be collecting donations on-site all three evenings, so you can help make an even bigger difference while enjoying the show.
Where: E.L. Cord Plaza at the Pioneer Center
When: August 14-16, 2026
What: Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival – Celebrate community, creativity, and compassion at the annual Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival, hosted by the Pioneer Center! This FREE outdoor event features a unique mixed-genre dance program each night, spotlighting talented northern Nevada-based dance companies and special guest artists.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, bring blankets or chairs for seating, and enjoy delicious offerings from local food trucks before the show begins. The plaza opens at 5:30 pm, with performances starting at 7:30 pm.
As part of this special event, the SPCA of Northern Nevada will host a nightly Pup Parade—a heartwarming fashion show featuring alumni dogs and dedicated volunteers. This fun and furry feature helps raise awareness and support for SPCA-NN’s life-saving mission. We kindly ask that guests leave their own pets at home for this event.
The 2026 Headlining Dance Companies Are:
Ballet Folklórico Pueblo Nuevo (Belén Chávez, director)
Controlled Burn (Tami Matus, booking manager)
Heart & Sole Dance Academy (Jenny Buck, director)
Nevada Dance Company (Erica & Oliver Adams, directors)
Reno Movement Collective (Kristin Austin, director)
White Light Bollywood Productions (Chhavi Bhalla, director)
The Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival Featured Guest Artist to be announced soon!
Featured dance companies performing this year are Danza Azteca Aztlan, Entity Movement Dance Company, Honey Dance Productions, Luminescent, Northern Nevada Ballet Academy, and NoteAble Music Therapy Services Dance Troupe.
Limited-Time Dog Days of Summer Shirts Are Here!
Celebrate the 5th Annual Dog Days of Summer with a limited-edition T-shirt that gives back! Every shirt purchased helps support both the SPCA of Northern Nevada and the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, making a difference for pets and the arts in our community.
*Orders close July 24, so don’t wait! Grab yours today and wear your support all summer long.