Preselections Hiphop & House Dance Forever 2026

Every summer, dancers from around the world come together at Summer Dance Forever to battle it out in five different styles. Today, it's all about Hiphop & House! To enter the Battles, dancers must first impress the judges in the open Preselections to earn a spot in the Top 24. Visitors are welcome to watch and see who makes it to the Battles.

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.

➤ If you stay at Paradiso after the battles, you can attend the club night Jamrock for free (if you leave Paradiso, you have to buy a separate ticket for this event!).

Line-up House Dance Preselection

Judges:
Hiro
Toyin
Tony McGregor

DJs:
KC The Funkaholic
Mab’ish

Hosts:
JNM The Naked MC
John Agesilas
Alysha

Line-up Hiphop Preselection

Judges:
Majid
Icee
Batalla CL

DJs:
Lumi Sow
DJ Stew

Hosts:
JNM The Naked MC
John Agesilas

Showcase Let it happen

Let It Happen is sister trio Norah, Yarah and Rosa, leading forces in the international freestyle and hiphop scene. You might have seen Norah and Yarah compete in the HipHop Forever Top 24! Born in the Netherlands and rooted in their Congolese heritage, they've built a distinctive, instantly recognisable style that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Their freestyle talent has been recognised by names including Anderson, Paak, LL Cool J, Common, Rakim, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Mobb Deep and Queen Latifah. Videos of the trio have been shared multiple times by the official James Brown Family Foundation, via the daughter of the Godfather of Soul, and most recently by Snoop Dogg, who shared a video of them and now follows them.

At Summer Dance Forever, they bring that same energy, precision and culture to the stage!

Want to participate?

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

* Minimum age for participation is 15 years.

⮕ Registration opens Friday 28 August from 12:30
⮕ Preselections Hiphop Forever: Friday 28 August from 13:30 - 18:00 (doors open at 13:00)
⮕ Preselections House Dance Forever: Friday 28 August from 18:30 - 21:30

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.