The station plays a mix of back-to-back current, future and classic electronic dance music,[1] and broadcasts exclusively on BBC Sounds.

[2] Jonathan Wall, controller of BBC Sounds, confirmed in February 2020 that Radio 1 Dance was to launch in spring 2020.

[12] The corporation adjusted the schedule infrequently during this time, with a relaunch of Friday night dance programming simulcast on the main Radio 1 network following the departure of Annie Mac in July 2021.

The stream broadcasts the same schedule of shows as Saturdays until 7 pm, where a repeat of Radio 1's Dance Party Warm-Up hosted by Danny Howard from earlier in the week is aired.

First introduced by Dave Pearce in October 1997, the Dance Anthems brand has been a regular part of the main Radio 1 schedule.

[26] Supporting grassroots DJs and music producers, Future Dance with Sarah Story is a two-hour programme broadcast from 8 pm on a Friday night.

The show was introduced in 2021 as part of the station's commitment to supporting emerging talent in the dance music scene.

At the 2022 festival in Coventry, Radio 1 Dance hosted a stage across the full weekend[31] and curated the Friday night line-up.

The event is usually the first weekend in August and has performances from world-famous DJs and Radio 1 Dance talent such as Pete Tong, Danny Howard, Annie Mac and Sarah Story.

Sets were pre-recorded mixes from artists and DJs at home and included Disclosure, The Blessed Madonna, Duck Sauce, Franky Wah, Danny Howard, Black Coffee, Jayda G, Four Tet, Pete Tong B2B Bonobo, Carl Cox, Becky Hill, RAYE, Duke Dumont, Gorgon City B2B Sonny Fodera, Jax Jones, MistaJam and MK.

The event aimed to turn BBC Sounds into "the world's biggest nightclub" to celebrate 25 years since Radio 1's first broadcast in Ibiza.

The theme of Friday 6 August 2021 was "Around The World with Radio 1", and featured sets from Swedish House Mafia (Sweden), MK (USA), Ewan McVicar (Scotland), Shermanology (Holland), Krystal Klear (Ireland), Hannah Wants (UK), Vintage Culture (Brazil), THEMBA (South Africa), Nina Kraviz (Russia) and Andrea Oliva (Ibiza).

[37] Special editions of Radio 1's Essential Mix were recorded at two events, some of the first following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, in the UK.

The first, recorded on 24 July 2021 at Circus presents Elrow in Liverpool,[38] aired on Saturday 6 August with DJ sets from Yousef and Paul Woolford, and the second recorded a few hours earlier in Newcastle at Shindig[39] showcasing a set from Carl Cox aired in the early hours of Sunday 7 August.

Recorded sets were broadcast from Diplo, LF System, Skream (UKG Set), TSHA, Meg Ward, Gorgon City B2B Sonny Fodera (Ibiza Classic Mix), Jeremiah Asiamah (Afrohouse Mix), Rene LaVice B2B Charlie Tee and Sarah Story B2B Jaguar.

Radio 1 Dance also partnered with Ushuaïa, Hï and Amnesia clubs in Ibiza to showcase specially recorded Essential Mixes from Swedish House Mafia, Vintage Culture and Marco Faraone B2B Eats Everything.

[45] Hosted by Danny Howard, Sarah Story and Pete Tong, sets included Becky Hill, Camden Cox, Chase & Status, Eats Everything, FISHER, Hannah Wants, HoneyLuv B2B Danny Howard, Jamie Jones, Jax Jones, Katy B, LP Giobbi, The Martinez Brothers, MK, Patrick Topping, Sam Divine and Sonny Fodera B2B Arielle Free.

This included ANTS Ibiza on Saturday 29 July at Ushuaïa featuring sets from Andrea Oliva B2B Patrick Topping, Arielle Free, LF System, Pete Tong, Dunmore Brothers and Solardo.

[48] On Sunday 30 July, the brand was licensed to LoveJuice Playground pool party at Ibiza Rocks with sets from Alex Mills, Charlie Hedges and D.O.D.,[49] and Glitterbox at Hï, which included Roger Sanchez and The Shapeshifters on the bill.

[62] Additionally, the BBC licensed the Radio 1 Dance X brand to the main event for SummerDaze Festival on 15 August with Sam Smith, Charlie Hedges and Becky Hill,[63] and Radio 1 Dance X at Café del Mar Malta with Danny Howard and Kungs on 18 August.

In 2024, Ibiza Rocks Hotel in Sant Antoni de Portmany licensed the Radio 1 Dance X brand from the BBC, hosting weekly pool parties every Monday at the venue from 3 June 2024 to 26 August 2024.

[67] The line-up for 2024 included Alex Mills, Billy Gillies, Charlie Hedges, Connor Coates, D.O.D., Goodboys, Hannah Boleyn, House Gospel Choir, Jax Jones, Jazzy, Kelli-Leigh, LF System, Luude and Venbee.

[74] The event was headlined Black Coffee - his debut at the club - and Maya Jane Coles, with support from Radio 1 Dance DJs Danny Howard, Arielle Free and Sarah Story.