Popping Forever Preselections & Battles 2026 - The Warrior Edition

Popping Forever brings together the world’s best Popping dancers to battle it out at Paradiso. To reach the Battles, dancers must first impress the judges during the open Preselections and earn a spot in the Top 24. At the Battles, visitors are invited to watch the heat as dancers go head-to-head for a spot in the Top 3, where they’ll even face off against the three judges themselves.

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. They must first take on six warriors — former winners, finalists, and judges — before going up against this year’s judges. No shortcuts. The higher the pressure, the heavier the belt. And this is the one you want! Scroll down to see how it all works.

Line-up Popping Forever

Judges:
Nelson 
Boogie Frantick
HYA

DJs:
Nobunaga
Lucas Benjamin 
Hero (preselection)

Hosts:
JNM The Naked MC
John Agesilas
Alysha

*the 6 warriors will remain secret until the battle

Want to participate?

If you want to participate in the battles, you first need to register at Paradiso and participate in the Preselections. The Top 24 best dancers from the preselection will go through to the actual battle. 

Minimum age for participation is 15 years.

⮕ Registration for dancers: 10:00
⮕ Preselections Popping Forever: 11:00-13:00 (doors open at 11:00)
⮕ Battle Popping Forever: 16:00-21:00

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 in 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.