PCA RULES 2026

General Rules

• Participation in this competition is entirely at your own risk.
• After subscribing via the form, you are temporarily registered. You must confirm your registration by paying the fee per participant per act within 24 hours. If your payment is not received on time, the next subscriber will take your place.
• The participant fee is non-refundable in case of cancellation or disqualification, including injuries, rescheduling due to COVID, or other unforeseen circumstances.
• Your place is non-transferable and cannot be sold or given away.
• It is not possible to transfer canceled spots from previous editions to this edition.
• Participants must check in during the designated check-in times. These will be communicated at a later date. Latecomers will be excluded from the competition.
• The competition organizers reserve the right to exclude participants at any time.
• The dressing room and backstage is restricted to participants only. Only for the teens category, one parent/caretaker is allowed to accompany.
• Fireworks, confetti, or any other items that can damage the stage or require extensive cleaning are not allowed. In doubt, send us an email.
• Using forbidden techniques will lead to penalties or disqualification by the jury: -1 per technique, per jury form.
• Use of Stick-it, Itac and Monkey hands GLUEY (green) is prohibited.
• IMPORTANT: Neglecting these rules will lead to penalties or disqualification.

Environmental Concerns

• Due to environmental concerns, NO GLITTER is allowed in the theater! Studies show glitter is extremely harmful to the environment. Therefore, glitter that can fall off your body is not allowed. Glitter eyeshadow, fixed glitter in your outfit, or glitter gel is permitted as long as it stays in place. Violation of these rules will result in denial of entry to the theater. The theater itself will enforce this rule.

Participant Fee

• Solo: €75,-
• Duo & Groups: €55,-  per person
• Including a voucher from @sistersandflavours for a small lunch or dinner break during the competition.
• Including access to the event on the competition day, so you can watch the rest of the competition without purchasing an additional ticket.
•  Every participant will receive a medal, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be awarded a trophy.

 Performance Guidelines

• The jury will judge your performance based on an equal distribution between the two poles and your performance on the ground, with each comprising one-third of your performance.
• Please register for a level that genuinely matches your current skills. Most importantly: please don’t register for a category that is clearly below your level. Give other participants, especially beginners and those competing for the first time, a fair chance to shine and enjoy the competition too. 
• Are you an instructor?
  Please register for the level you teach or higher, and not for a lower category.
  For example: Intermediate 2 instructors cannot enter an Amateur category (or any category below Intermediate 2).
• If you have competed in the nationals in the last 3 years in the ELITE category, you cannot enter categories other than Sensual Pole Flow Professional, and Story Teller Professional.
• The use of body makeup is restricted to the story categories and can only be applied on body parts that do not come into contact with the poles.
• In the Sensual pole flow category (and all other categories), movements that can damage the floor are not allowed.

Stage Setup

• A truss will be placed with top and bottom fixed 45mm poles, approximately 4 meters high. The left pole is static, and the right pole is spinning (from the audience’s perspective).
• The entire act must be performed within the truss. Touching or using the truss elements will lead to immediate disqualification as it can be greasy or dirty, causing loss of grip.
• The stage is restricted to participants only. You cannot bring other people or animals during your act.

Music Submission

• Music must be sent via a separate email with only your music file and your registration number to wedstrijd@studioadc.nl before the deadline, but NOT earlier than November 1, 2026. Your registration number will be available on the competition page before October 31, 2026.
• Deadlines are defined per block:
  • Block 1: January 15, 2027
  • Block 2: February 1, 2027

• Please do not send your music in a reply email or combine it with questions.
• We do not accept the same music twice within a block. Submit your music early to avoid disapproval.
• There are minimum and maximum time limits for music and acts, which vary per category. Check “rules per category”.
• Music should be in .MP3 format (minimum quality 128kbps stereo).
• Sudden cut-offs, poor sound quality, abusive words in texts, or badly mixed music will be refused.
• Once your music is received and approved, an (M) will appear behind your name on the competition page.
• Late submissions will result in a penalty of 1 point per day on your jury score.
• We offer a service to download and edit your music. This service can be requested via email:
  • Send an email with your requirements to wedstrijd@studioadc.nl addressed to Kees.
  • An (e) will be noted behind your name upon receipt of your request. If your request is received before the deadline for your block, you are safe.
  • Your music will be downloaded in CD quality, edited, and shared with you. If you agree, it will be added to the Competition system.
  • Fees depend on the amount of work. Estimates: Download, clean cut, and fade-out €12,50; Single song edit €17,50; Dual song edit €22,50.

General Dress Code

• Wearing only underwear or a bikini is not permitted.
• Groins, breasts, nipples, and half of your buttocks must be covered.*
  > *Sensual: at least one-fourth of the buttocks must remain covered.
• No clothing removal allowed. (Small exception for story)
• For more rules, check “rules per category”.
• (High) heels are only allowed in the Sensual pole flow category.
• Clothes and jewelry that can damage the poles are not allowed. Examples include buttons, denim shorts, zippers, and any other items that may damage the pole. Participants violating this rule will not be allowed to enter the stage. 
• Neglecting these rules will lead to penalties or disqualification by the jury.
• The pole testing schedule will be announced at a later date.

Pole testing

• No flips, drops, jumps, or dynamic transitions are permitted during pole testing.
• Pole testing is intended solely to check the grip and spin settings of the poles.
• Competitors may perform a maximum of one technique on each pole.
• Please keep pole testing brief and respectful of the schedule and other competitors.

Rules Per Category

POLE TEENS (Dutch speaking participants only) (Solo)

Vanwege de presentatie en communicatie van deze categorie, is Pole Teens alleen bedoeld voor Nederlandssprekende deelnemers.

Ook voor onze jongere deelnemers hebben we een categorie! Deze wijkt iets af van de andere categorieën, dus lees als ouder, verzorger of coach de onderstaande regels goed door:

• Leeftijd: 10 t/m 17 jaar
• Niveau: technieken van alle levels
• Muziek: minimaal 2:15, maximaal 2:45
• Teens moeten een short dragen die de billen (bijna) volledig bedekt, plus een topje. Er mag geen kleding worden uitgetrokken, maar je mag wel items zoals een rok en vleugels afdoen.
• Je mag twee attributen meenemen, met een maximale omvang van 1 meter per item. Deze moeten binnen 30 seconden opgebouwd en weer weggehaald kunnen worden. Lees onze algemene regels om te zien wat niet mag, zoals vuurwerk en confetti.

LET OP: Losse glitters in het haar, op het gezicht en op outfits zijn deze editie NIET toegestaan! Wie dit toch doet, wordt niet toegelaten in het theater of direct verwijderd.

POLE BEGINNERS (Solo)

• Techniques: only beginner techniques allowed
• Music: min 2:00, max 2:30
• Dress code: see general dress code
• You are not allowed to use attributes/props in this category.

POLE INTERMEDIATE 1  (Solo)

• Techniques: beginners + intermediate 1 techniques allowed
• Music: min 2:15, max 2:45
• Dress code: see general dress code
• You are not allowed to use attributes/props in this category.

POLE INTERMEDIATE 2 (Solo)

• Techniques: beginners, intermediate 1 & intermediate 2 techniques allowed
• Music: min 2:15, max 2:45
• Dress code: see general dress code
• You are not allowed to use attributes/props in this category.

POLE 40+ (Solo)

• Techniques: beginners, intermediate, intermediate 2 & MAX 2 advanced techniques allowed. If two advanced techniques aren’t enough for you, we’d be happy to welcome you to our Advanced category.
• Music: min 2:15, max 2:45
• Dress code: see general dress code
• You are not allowed to use attributes/props in this category.

POLE ADVANCED (Solo)

• Techniques: all techniques allowed
• Music: min 2:30, max 3:00
• Dress code: see general dress code
• You are not allowed to use attributes/props in this category.

STORY TELLER – AMATEUR (Solo)

• Techniques: beginners + intermediate 1 techniques allowed
• Teachers who teach Intermediate-level classes or higher are not allowed to compete in the Amateur category.
• Music: min 2:15, max 2:45
• Dress code: see general dress code, no clothing removal allowed except items like a skirt, cape, or wings.
• Max 2 attributes with a max size of 1 meter each, easy to move, no confetti, fireworks, or items that can damage the stage. If in doubt, please request permission via email. No animal or human props.

 STORY TELLER – AMATEUR (Duo/Group)

• Techniques: beginners + intermediate 1 techniques allowed
• Teachers who teach Intermediate-level classes or higher are not allowed to compete in the Amateur category.
• Music: min 2:15, max 2:45
• Dress code: see general dress code, no clothing removal allowed except items like a skirt, cape, or wings.
• Max 2 attributes with a max size of 1 meter each, easy to move, no confetti, fireworks, or items that can damage the stage. If in doubt, please request permission via email. No animal or human props.

STORY TELLER – PROFESSIONAL (Solo)

• Techniques: all techniques allowed
• Music: min 2:30, max 3:00
• Dress code: see general dress code, no clothing removal allowed except items like a skirt, cape, or wings.
• Max 2 attributes with a max size of 1 meter each, easy to move, no confetti, fireworks, or items that can damage the stage. If in doubt, please request permission via email. No human props.

 STORY TELLER – PROFESSIONAL (Duo/Group)

• Techniques: all techniques allowed
• Music: min 2:30, max 3:00
• Dress code: see general dress code, no clothing removal allowed except items like a skirt, cape, or wings.
• Max 2 attributes with a max size of 1 meter each, easy to move, no confetti, fireworks, or items that can damage the stage. If in doubt, please request permission via email. No animal or human props.

SENSUAL POLE FLOW – AMATEUR (Solo/Duo/ Group)

• Techniques: beginners + intermediate 1 techniques allowed
• Teachers who regularly teach (Sensual) Pole Flow or any other flow-related classes are not allowed to compete in the Amateur category.
• Music: Minimum 2:15, maximum 2:45.
• Dress code: Your outfit may be sexy, but it must not be overly revealing. Lingerie is not permitted, and thong-sized garments, including mini bikinis, G-strings, and T-strings, are prohibited. At least one-fourth of the buttocks must remain covered. No clothing is to be removed during the act.
• Ensure you don’t damage our stage; no flips or other hard landings on the floor. (Kip flips are allowed if your landing is soft and controlled)

SENSUAL POLE FLOW – PROFESSIONAL (Solo/Duo/ Group)

• Techniques: All techniques allowed.
• Music: Minimum 2:30, maximum 3:00.
• Dress code: Your outfit may be sexy, but it must not be overly revealing. Lingerie is not permitted, and thong-sized garments, including mini bikinis, G-strings, and T-strings, are prohibited. At least one-fourth of the buttocks must remain covered. No clothing is to be removed during the act.
• Ensure you don’t damage our stage; no flips or other hard landings on the floor. (Kip flips are allowed if your landing is soft and controlled)