Event details

2026 edition

This was such a good event! Way before the event strated, there was already a whatsapp community to connect with, where Clem & Evi were answering any questions. Throughout the event, they seemed calm and everything felt very well organized, fantastic job to the team! LOVED the diversity sets from the dj's. The venue has air conditioning and there's plenty of places to get food nearby. Also really enjoyed the fusion workshops on Sunday. A small complaint is the concrete floor, which was a little tiring to dance on. Would also love to see more integration of the "swing lab" theme next year! All in all, loved the event, love the Berlin community, can't wait to come back for this next year!

2026 edition

This was one with mixed feelings afterwards... Ahed, I stayed at the venue (Vienna House), with is really easy to reach by train - in theory. Deutsche Bahn made sure to increase difficulty. But, with a combo of long distance and suburban trains, you get to about 200meters to the venue (S Landsberger Allee). Right around the corner (literally) there is an ALDI (Nord) Discounter for about anything you need. A friend of my got there by car... not that funny. Nor cheap. Only thing I did not like about the location in Berlins's former East, was, that the preparty was not in the Vienna house, but about at the opposite end of Berlin, in Tempelhof District. Other than that, tram and S station right in front of the hotel/venue entrance, less than 15 mins to central Berlin (Alexanderplatz). If you booked a room there, you had it easy, Should, I have to say, the Vieanna house is not small, and while I had a room in spitting distance to the elevators, my strictly partner could use the way ti the elevator for warmup. The dancing took places on i subterranean level, was aircon'ed.... no serious room for critique, especially on those warm days. Check-in was quick, efficient... also no prob here. Okay, th DB is not the event's fault, so why didnt I think it was a sure folow-up event for '27`? Organization. friday, not that much to do before (late) afternoon, if you had opted for a strictly. If not... skip to saturday. A few Levelled Workshops from late morning, in several rooms. Then, Jack and Jill time. Nice friendly guests/dancers from places you dont usually see in the Western and of Germany. This was one of the best parts, or THE best part. Instructors... you like them or not, I will not give it a bias here. Some well-known names. The part I did not like that much was Sunday. Yeah, people party all night, get up late. Still, I would have preferred an earlier start. The "exploration" part (mixing styles of other dances into WCS)... began late. When I was more or less done.

2026 edition

I absolutely loved SwingLab Berlin! 💙 Everything about this event was exceptional. The organizers paid incredible attention to every detail, and it really showed. They even made sure everyone knew what kind of floor to expect at both the pre-party and the main event, so dancers could bring the right shoes. It's a small detail, but one that makes a huge difference. The venue was beautiful, and having air-conditioned rooms was an absolute blessing! After two sweltering events, this felt like a breath of fresh air. The teachers were outstanding, the participants were warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere was simply amazing. Great music, fantastic socials, and wonderful vibes all weekend long. The hotel was also one of the best I've ever stayed at for a dance event, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. So far, SwingLab Berlin is my favorite West Coast Swing event of 2026.

2026 edition

SwingLab was an absolutely fantastic event, and if I have the chance, I'll definitely be back next year! The venue is huge and beautiful, with comfortable rooms, a gym, a sauna, and an excellent breakfast. The event itself was very well organized, and the workshops were great. The Level 5 classroom did get quite warm at times, but it was still manageable. The main ballroom were amazing and created a fantastic atmosphere for social dancing. The competitions ran smoothly and were well organized throughout the weekend. Winning two placements definitely made the weekend even more memorable, but even if I put that aside, I would still say this was an outstanding event. The overall experience, the organization, and the atmosphere were all top. Without a doubt, this is an event I'd highly recommend, and one I'll be happy to return to.

2026 edition

I loved SwingLab, a great trial event where you can tell the organisers put a lot of love into it. The community is welcoming, and the event is very well-run. The hotel rooms are good quality, spacious with all the amenities. In-room fridge, A/C, windows that open, bath and good shower, comfortable beds. Getting housekeeping service is by request though and has to be requested the day before. There are a couple supermarkets nearby which are plentiful, a few fast-food options, and the public transport options are many, the ring train, tram just outside at Landsberger Allee. You can get a train directly from the airport which stops right outside for a very reasonable price. The journey into town is 15-20 mins by tram and there is of course plenty of Berlin's rich history and culture to see. The orgnaisers told us ahead of time that the floor was linoleum and could be challenging unless wearing suede shoes, but I was pleasantly surprised. Whilst a little bit slower than some floors, I mostly did not notice it at all, and I actually wore my Swayd Flow shoes all weekend without any issues. The temperature in the ballroom was fine, although somehow still a bit humid, I didn't feel myself get overly hot, but I was sweating more than I would expect, but the floor still fine. The sound system is one of the best I have ever heard at any event, essentially a conference center with theatrical-grade sound. The kind of sound that can be loud and crisp, and yet you can still talk over it. For me it was a little too loud during the competitions, but this is pretty typical of most events and I am used to wearing earplugs for this part. The chillout area next to the dance floor is perfect for when you are too tired to dance, enjoying the music, and want to catch up with friends. I can see how if the event got larger they could change the ratio of dance floor to chillout area and it would be great. In summary, I'd definitely recommend SwingLab! I can't wait to see how it evolves.