Meet the IDL Festival 2026 Line-up

From 16–18 October, IDL Festival returns to Theater Rotterdam for three days of battles, theatre, music and community.

This year’s programme brings together dancers and artists from across the world. International judges take their seats for the Adult League, but some of them will also step into the battle themselves as part of The Great 8. The Teenage League brings a new generation to the floor, while Theatre Night opens the festival with four performances.

Adult League

The Adult League brings four 1vs1 categories to IDL Festival: Hip Hop, House, Popping and Krump.

Hip Hop

Judges
Jeems πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Kyoka πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅

DJ
Passive πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Host
Patrick πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

House

Judges
Rachad πŸ‡§πŸ‡ͺ
Kazane πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅

DJ
Joel πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Host
Youssef πŸ‡§πŸ‡ͺ

Popping

Judges
Marciano πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Jaja Vankova πŸ‡¨πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

DJ
Passive πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Host
Patrick πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Krump

Judges
Andever
Jaja Vankova πŸ‡¨πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

DJ
Isis πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Host
TBA

2vs2 IDL Open Styles

Different styles meet in the 2vs2 IDL Open Styles battle.

Dancers enter the preselections as a duo, with four teams earning their place in the main event: The Great 8.

Judges
Brui5er πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Nelson πŸ‡«πŸ‡·
Wennah πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Luciano πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

DJ
Passive πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Hosts
Patrick πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Youssef πŸ‡§πŸ‡ͺ

The Great 8

At IDL, judging isn’t the only role waiting for our 1vs1 judges. The judges from the Adult League also become the Battle Guests. Together, they form four invited duos and enter The Great 8 directly. Waiting for them are four duos who have battled their way through the 2vs2 IDL Open Styles preselections.

Four invited Battle Guest duos. Four duos from the preselections. Eight teams meet on the floor.

This is The Great 8.

Teenage League

The Teenage League brings together a new generation of dancers who train and develop together in the lead-up to IDL Festival.

Four teams, each guided by their own captain, come together during the festival for the Teenage League.

Judges
Brui5er πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Nelson πŸ‡«πŸ‡·
Wennah πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Luciano πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Captains
Charley πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Aram πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Melano πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Giorgio πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

DJ
Passive πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

Hosts
Patrick πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
Youssef πŸ‡§πŸ‡ͺ

Theatre Night

IDL Festival opens on Friday 16 October with Theatre Night: an evening where street styles, rooted in Hip Hop culture, meet the theatre stage.

Four performances, four different perspectives and movement languages take over the stage at Theater Rotterdam.

MODUS VIVENDI | Mark β€œBrui5er” Sheats & Viki Čerček
IS IT A CRIME? | Crime Time
SHINE | Osas Company
DIEP | SERIOOS
More to come

Workshops, talks, jams, the Showcase Competition and more are all part of IDL Festival 2026. More names and programme announcements will be revealed in the lead-up to the festival.

BATTLE. THEATRE. COMMUNITY.

IDL Festival 2026
16–18 October 2026
Theater Rotterdam

Get your tickets and join us at IDL Festival 2026.

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