Hiphop Forever Battles 2026 - The Warrior Edition

Please note: This program at Paradiso is sold out. Hiphop Forever brings together the scene's top hiphop dancers at Paradiso for an explosive battle night. This year, we take it even further. Together with SNIPES, we bring back the Warrior Edition, a format designed to push dancers to their highest level. With the Warrior Edition, the Top 6 don't stop at the battles. Join us for the toughest battle in the scene

➤ Preselections Hiphop & House Dance Forever take place on Friday 28 August.

➤ If you stay at Paradiso after the battles, you can attend the club night "From the floor to the Decks - Hiphop Special" for free, starting at 11:00 PM (if you leave Paradiso, you have to buy a separate ticket for this event!).

Hiphop Forever Line-up

Judges:

Majid

Ice

Battle CL

DJs:

Lumi Sow

DJ Stewart

Hosts:

JNM The Naked MC

John Agesilas

*the 6 warriors will remain secret until the battle

Want to participate?

If you want to participate in the battles, you first need to take part in the Preselection on Friday 28 August. For this, you need a ticket and must register at Paradiso Amsterdam. On the Battle day, the Top 48 dancers from the Preselection will each get one more minute to prove themselves on the day of the battles, after which the judges will select the Top 24 to advance to the battles.

⮕ Registration opens Friday 28 August from 12:30

⮕ Preselections Hiphop Forever: Friday 28 August from 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM (doors open at 1:00 PM)

⮕ Preselections House Dance Forever: Friday 28 August from 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

How do the SDF Warrior Edition Battles work?

Preselections:

Everyone is welcome at the Preselections, whether you're participating or simply there to enjoy the vibe. Dancers hit the floor and get 45 seconds to show what they've got. After that, the three judges select 48 dancers, who each get one more minute to impress and earn a spot in the Top 24 that advance to the battles.

Battles:

In the Battles, the Top 24 dancers go head-to-head in 1vs1 rounds, battling their way through the Top 12, Top 6, and ultimately the Top 3. These Top 3 dancers then face off against the 3 judges, who step onto the floor themselves in the legendary Judge Battles. This is what sets Summer Dance Forever apart: our judges don't just sit behind a desk, they get into the mix and battle too. Don't talk about it — be about it!

The Warrior Edition

This year, SDF and SNIPES are bringing back the Warrior Edition! Before reaching the Judge Battles, the Top 6 dancers must first take on six warriors — former winners, finalists, and judges. And if that isn't hard enough, the warriors themselves choose which dancers they want to battle. If a dancer makes it through to the Judge Battles, the power shifts back to them: they choose which judge they want to face.After the Judge Battles, three dancers remain. One dancer then gets to call back an eliminated opponent to complete the Semi-Final line-up.

Audience vote

You, the audience at Paradiso Amsterdam, play a vital role. In the Semi-Finals and Final, the dancers themselves answer the legendary question: Did you win or lose? But if both dancers claim the win, the final decision is in your hands. You help crown the Forever Warrior champion, who earns prize money, eternal glory, and the chance to judge at a future edition.