Michael Flatley speaks ahead of Lord of the Dance 30th anniversary show: "We've never done a show without a standing ovation."

Michael Flatley's iconic Lord of the Dance show is set to return to 3Arena on February 6, 2026 for its 30th anniversary.

Lord of the Dance premiered in the summer of 1996 at the Point Theatre (now 3Arena). The show is created, choreographed and produced by the legendary Flatley who dreamed of creating an Irish dance show that could sell out arenas to roaring crowds.

Sure enough, Flatley and his dancers succeeded.

After 30 years as a global phenomenon, selling out stadiums everywhere from Budapest to Taiwan, it is set to return to Dublin in what Flatley described as "a show for everyone."

"Our audience demographic is ages five to 95, all races, religions, colours and languages," Flatley told Hot Press at a media event ahead of the show.

"We have no barriers anywhere. We did a study back in the 1990s, and we learned that less than 20% of our audience has any connection with Ireland whatsoever. We get the same response from Tokyo to Texas, from Boston to Beijing, people stamping their feet and screaming. We've been so blessed over these 30 years. We've never done a show without a standing ovation."

Michael Flatley. Photo: Abigail Ring/hotpress.com

Though it is internationally beloved, Flatley says Lord of the Dance is Irish at its soul — which is what makes the Dublin show so meaningful.

"It's Ireland, it's Irish culture," Flatley said.

"These are Irish dancers, and I'm endlessly proud of that. And when we get to the 3Arena, we're going to blow the roof off the place. Our dancers are buzzing to come home to Ireland.

"When you travel the world, when you've been all over— it's a crazy world they live in, they've done it all, but they know in their hearts they're promoting Ireland, they're promoting Irish culture. They can't wait. This is like their reward, their dessert, coming home to Dublin where it all started at the 3Arena."

While the story of the show remains the same — a mystical battle between good and evil, love and heartache, struggle and victory all set in a fantastical Celtic land — Flately promised there are plenty of fresh new elements.

"I consistently upgrade the shows," Flatley said.

"I give them new steps, give them more syncopated rhythm patterns, accelerate the footwork. They're at such an elite level — they're known as 'dance-letes' now — and they need to be constantly pushed to greater places for themselves."

Michael Flatley with two of the dancers in Lord of The Dance. Photo: Abigail Ring/hotpress.com

As intense as training is for the young dancers, their passion for dance keeps them confident and enthusiastic on and off stage.

"I will always try to inculcate my dancers with confidence and a self-belief that they can conquer anything, that they can do anything," Flatley said.

They train together, they eat together, they do yoga together, they meditate together and I think that comes across when they're on stage. After 30 years, Lord of the Dance is still profitable and relevant in spite of the incessant vicissitudes of the entertainment industry and the dance genre specifically, because of that."

Flatley described many of the lessons he learned from his experiences and conversations with others, which he said he does his best to pass on to the dancers.

"I'm very blessed in my life to have made many friends in great places," Flatley said.

"I had some really deep conversations with people who have achieved great things, from Sinéad O'Connor to Muhammad Ali. I try to learn everything I can from great people. One of the things I always try to inculcate my dancers with is that when you're on stage, don't be thinking about what's next or where we're going out tonight or your boyfriend or your girlfriend.

"Look at the audience, give every last drop and think to yourself, 'These are the good old days, because I promise you it'll be over before you can blank your eye, so enjoy every second now.' I had that conversation with Brian May of Queen. I met him one night after the show and we were discussing that idea."

Michael Flatley with the cast of Lord of The Dance. Photo: Abigail Ring/hotpress.com

While he won't be performing on-stage in 2026 as he did in 1996 (though he said there will be a hologram of him dancing near the end of the show), Flatley is confident that his crew of talented young dancers will carry on the iconic show's legacy of excellence.

Lord of the Dance will make its highly anticipated return to Dublin's 3Arena on February 5, 2026.