Midwinter Ball is a private event for currently-enrolled Carleton students and their guests. Funding is provided by the Carleton Student Association (CSA) as part of the CSA Activity Fee, and the event is coordinated by the Student Activities Office (SAO) and the Student Activities Programming Board (SAPB). Advance guest registration is required (see below).
The event takes place simultaneously in three different locations: Sayles-Hill (Great Space), Severance Hall (Great Hall) and Severance Hall (Tea Room). Great Hall will host the Roseville Big Band, a 19-piece swing band who have performed at Midwinter Ball since 1994. The Tea Room will host Salsa Del Soul, a 9-piece band that performs various styles of dance music from the Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean. They have performed at Midwinter Ball since 2010.
The 46th Annual Midwinter Ball will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026, 9:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Semi-formal attire requested. This year’s decor theme is the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
Event Details – Music, Pizza and More
Great Space will host a variety of talented student DJs performing current music and classic favorites:
9:30 PM – Ethan Saephan ’29: “Bangers only, high energy, one of a kind set. DJ FISH6 is bringing unheard sounds to Carleton College that will get your body moving.”
10:00 PM – Rahim Hamid ’26: “Hi, I’m Rahim and I mix modern party and pop music with classic Bollywood songs, 2000’s pop, and Latin beats. I play music with faster tempos and strong bass, so you’ll always be hearing something you can dance to.”
10:30 PM – Jasmine Maldonado ’26: “Hey! My name is Kisilea, and I’ve DJ’d at MWB for the last two years. I’m bringing a high energy set that’ll make you want to dance. I’ll be playing a mix of genres like Jersey Club, salsa, house, and 2000s hits, so if you enjoy any of these, I’m sure you’ll like my set ;)”
11:00 PM – Gabe Rose ’28: “As you are embraced by the thumping music in Sayles, a moment of silence appears. A new figure takes his stand on the balcony, and a euphonic soundscape flows through the crowd. Like the uncertain twilight, the music transforms into a visceral trance that can only be experienced once in a lifetime. In Twilight welcomes you.”
11:30 PM – Raghav Potdar ’27: “dj lock. playing hip-hop’s finest. Tory Lanez, Sexxy, Don Toliver, Bryson Tiller, Drake, Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars…”
12:00 – 12:30 AM – Caleb Odou ’26: “Lebschino. I Play Black House Music. Rap, Hip Hop, Loud music.”
A free coat check is provided in Sayles-Hill Lounge (Upper Sayles), coordinated by volunteers from the CSA organization, Fellowship in Christ. Free pizza beginning at 10:00 p.m. (while supplies last), served from the Sayles Post Office/Mail Room by volunteers from Carleton’s Model United Nations team. A free shuttle bus from Northfield Lines will loop around campus during the event. The shuttle stops include: Rec Center parking lot, Cowling/Evans lot, Weitz Center (main entrance), & Sayles-Hill Campus Center (front/main entrance). Look for the A-frame sign at each location. The shuttle will run from 9:30 p.m. – 12:45 a.m. One of the shuttle buses will be wheelchair accessible.
Just prior to Midwinter Ball on Saturday afternoon, various student organizations host dance lessons in Sevy Great Hall. No experience of partners needed; just stop by!
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Merengue. Hosted by Latin Social Dance.
4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Foxtrot. Hosted by Social Dance Club & Ballroom Dance Team.
4:45 – 5:30 p.m. Waltz. Hosted by Social Dance Club & Ballroom Dance Team.
Want to see Midwinter Ball from previous years? Check out this video that SAO made a few years ago detailing the event. You can also checkout this great highlight reel.
Midwinter Ball Guest Registration
Midwinter Ball is a private event for Carleton students and their registered guests. Guests must be sponsored by a current Carleton student and registered in advance. Students and guests will receive a wristband to enter each music venue (i.e., Sayles Great Space, Great Hall, Sevy Tea Room). Guest registration will close at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, February 7 (night of event).
To register a guest, please log-in below and complete the form. Guests will receive an email to complete an online release of liability waiver. This waiver must be completed by your guest no later than 5:00 p.m., Saturday, February 7 or they will not be admitted. Please follow-up with your guest to confirm they have completed the waiver. As the host, you are responsible for the actions of your guest. Guests must be 18 years of age or older. One guest may be registered per current Carleton student. Duplicate registrations will be deleted.
On the night of the event, please stop by the Office of Health Promotion (Sayles 162, next to CCCE) to receive a wristband for your guest. Guests must present a government-issued photo ID as proof of age (18+). This wristband must be worn at all times during Midwinter Ball. Questions? Email sao@carleton.edu.