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Freedom City 9 International Hip Hop & Dance Festival

  • Friday 19 June - Monday 22 June 2026
  • Utrecht, the Netherlands
register now through the newdance app
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We’re turning the city of Utrecht into an international hiphop hub

We’re turning the city of Utrecht into an international hiphop hub. Freedom City 9 brings you 4 days of dance, battles and music. Whether it’s on the big stage, in the club, or outside on the streets: we come together and celebrate street dance culture and other hiphop artforms. For anyone who is passionate about dance, music and community.
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This year’s program & line ups

discover what’s going down
free

The Block Out Streetbattles

📍Stadhuisbrug
⏱️ 17:00-19:30

We take it back to where it all began: the streets. The best Krumpers of the country measure their strength against big names from the international scene. No judges, no time limit, just raw street battles!

Theater Night

📍Theater Kikker, Ganzenmarkt 14, Utrecht
⏱️ 20:00-22:30

The raw energy and creativity of the street meet the refinement of the theater. Get inspired by performances from local talents and internationally acknowledged artists who have transformed their freestyles from the battle floor into intricate choreographies and intuitive movements.

Performances

  • The End - Maxim & Polina
  • The Strength Within - Henoch, Gideon & Nigel
  • ECHOES - Persona Collective
  • BeAPad - Gonzy

📍De Helling, Helling 7, Utrecht

KRUMP & HIPHOP BATTLES

Dance and live music come together in an explosive mix of talent, competition, and boundless creativity. Dancers showcase their skills and fight for international trips and hard cash. Live music performances from the best MC’s on the mic raise the energy even higher!

Whether you're an experienced dancer or just want to feel the hype, this day is for everyone who breathes hiphop culture!

Time

  • 12:00 Doors Open & Registration
  • 13:00-16:30 Preselection & Top 16 battles*
  • 16:30-17:30 Break
  • 17:30-18:00 Cypher with live beats by Orka
  • 18:00-21:30 Opening Show & Battles
  • Registration closes at 13:00*

1vs1 Krump Desert Storm Qualifier & Newgen

🏆 1ST PLACE ADVANCED:
Qualifier Desert Storm 6 in Arizona, USA!
🥈 2ND PLACE ADVANCED: €300,-

🏆 1ST PLACE NEW GEN: €300,-
🥈 2ND PLACE NEW GEN: €150,-

Judges: Sniper, Twiggz, Spark
DJ: Ice
Host: Redchild & Dirty

2vs2 HipHop

🏆 1ST PLACE: €600,-
🥈 2ND PLACE: €300,-

Judges: Lindsay, Jeems, Delanotche
DJ: Passive
Host: Redchild & Dirty

📍Stadsschouwburg, Lucasbolwerk 24, Utrecht

Support Your Culture

Time

  • 14:00 Doors Open & Registration
  • 15:30-17:30 Preselections*
  • 17:30-19:00 Break
  • 19:00-21:30 Battles & Finals
  • Registration closes at 15:00*

1vs1 Bgirl Battle

The best international bgirls bring it all to the floor in high-stakes battles.

We’re giving room to all the women who have been pushing the breaking scene to new heights the past few years. The concept is simple: each dancer puts €25,- in the hat. Winner takes it all!

🏆 1ST PLACE: €1000,- + everyone’s cash!
🥈 2ND PLACE: €250,-
🥉 3rd/4th PLACE: €125,-

Top 8: €50,-
Top 16: €25,-

Judges: Roxy, Movie One, Kastet
DJ: Lucas Benjamin
Host: Arjuna

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TICKETS:

Single visitor tickets for Support Your Culture can be purchased on the website of the SSBU

Competitors don’t need a ticket, instead they pay their €25,- at the door!
You can enter the venue with your Silver or Gold Festival Pass.



Evening Street Session

📍 jaarbeursplein
⏱️ 22:30

street cyphers & battles, more info tba

📍De Helling, Helling 7, Utrecht

KRUMP & HIPHOP BATTLES

Dance and live music come together in an explosive mix of talent, competition, and boundless creativity. Dancers showcase their skills and fight for international trips and hard cash. Live music performances from the best MC’s on the mic raise the energy even higher!

Whether you're an experienced dancer or just want to feel the hype, this day is for everyone who breathes hiphop culture!

1vs1 Krump Desert Storm Qualifier & Newgen

🏆 1ST PLACE ADVANCED:
Qualifier Desert Storm 6 in Arizona, USA!
🥈 2ND PLACE ADVANCED: €300,-

🏆 1ST PLACE NEW GEN: €300,-
🥈 2ND PLACE NEW GEN: €150,-

Judges: Sniper, Twiggz, Spark
DJ: Ice
Host: Redchild & Dirty

2vs2 HipHop Weekend Experience

📍Stadsschouwburg, Utrecht

1vs1 Bgirl Support Your Culture

High-stakes international bgirl battles.
Each dancer puts €25 in the hat. Winner takes it all!

Evening Street Session

📍 jaarbeursplein
⏱️ 22:30

street cyphers & battles, more info tba

📍TivoliVredenburg, Vredenburgkade 11, Utrecht

FREEDOM CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS

On Sunday, we crown our champions! Dancers battle for their honour, the grand prize of €1500, and the title of Freedom City Champion. A mix of various street and club styles ensures a diverse array of graceful and explosive movements. In the afternoon, the preliminaries and first battles take place. In the evening, the finals alternate with live music performances and dance shows. Who will become this year’s Freedom City Champion?

3vs3 OPEN STYLES

🏆 1ST PLACE: €1500,-
🥈 2ND PLACE:  €600,-
🥉 3RD/4TH PLACE:  €300,-

TOP 8: €150,-

Judges: Lindsay, Rachad, Roxy, Sale, Twiggz
DJ’s: Ice, Passive
Hosts: Dirty, Redchild

1vs1 u17 OPEN STYLES

🏆 1ST PLACE: €150,-
🥈 2ND PLACE:  €50,-

Judges: Jaïra, Shakira, TBA
DJ’s: CHRIS TRIB3
Hosts: TBA

BOOMSNAPCLAP BEATBOX X KRUMP BATTLE

🏆 1ST PLACE: €200,-
🥈 2ND PLACE:  €75,-
🥉 3RD/4TH PLACE:  €50,-

WHOLE QUALIFIED TOP 8: €200,-

Pandora

  • 12:00 Doors Open & Registration
  • 14:00-17:30 Preselections 3vs3 Championship*, Top 16, Fall in Electro showcase
  • 17:30-18:30 Break
  • 18:30-19:00 Open Cypher - ICE B2B Passive
  • 19:00-21:30 Opening Show “Freedom City Anthem” by Stapelgang, Kid Twiggz Puppet Showcase, Open Styles U17 Final, BoomSnapClap Beatbox & Krump battle Final, Championship Battles & Finals
  • 12:00-20:00 Lifestyle Market
  • Registration closes at 14:00*

Pandora Foyer

  • 11:30 Doors Open & Registration
  • 12:30-15:30 Preselections* & Battles 1vs1 Open Styles U17
  • 13:00-17:00 Graffiti workshops by CLU Movement
  • 15:30-17:30 BoomSnapClap Beatbox & Krump Battle
  • 17:30-18:30 Femme Fusion
  • 12:00-20:00 Food Market
  • Registration closes at 12:00*
  • All Finals are in Pandora from 19:00

KF Hein Foyer

  • 11:30 Doors Open
  • 12:00-14:00 Masterclass Krump by Twiggz
  • 16:30-18:00 Battle of the New Schools
free

📍Domplein 4

COMMUNITY DAY

Monday has been the classic Krump community day in the Netherlands for years now. We highlight different aspects of Krump Culture, come together and labb!

Behind the Decision is a year-round program that travels European Krump tournaments, gathering knowledge and insights on HOW TO JUDGE KRUMP. We watch footage together, discuss judge decisions with the respective judges, and work on building towards a fair judging system for our culture.

12:00 - 15:00 Krump Conference “Behind the Decision”: Krump Judging research program
18:30 - 20:00 Masterclass Kid Twiggz - tickets here
20:00 - 22:30 Session

Package Deals

Your way of enjoying the Festival
view all options
    Most Popular option

    SILVER PASS SAT+SUN

    This Pass gives you access to everything going down on Saturday and Sunday. A weekend full of Hiphop culture, battles, and new experiences!
    • Entrance to all Saturday venues & programs
    • Free Entrance to Saturday Club Night (before 00:30)
    • Entrance to Sunday “Freedom City Championships”
    Masterclasses are not included in the Silver Pass
    Support Your Culture battle ticket is not included in the Silver Pass
    get your silver pass
    best value

    GOLD PASS FRI-SUN

    Unlock your Freedom with the 3-Day Gold Pass! This Pass gives you access to all programs taking place and ensures you the full Festival experience for the best price. Enjoy the Festival, connect with the culture and get Free.
    • Entrance to Friday Theater Night
    • Entrance to all Saturday venues & programs
    • Free Entrance to Saturday Club Night (before 00:30)
    • Entrance to Sunday “Freedom City Championships”
    Masterclasses are not included in the Gold Pass
    Support Your Culture battle ticket is not included in the Gold Pass
    get your gold pass

Freedom City Hall of Fame

See who previously took home the trophies. Are you next in line?

1vs1 Support Your Culture Bgirl

Kastet

Upcoming Events

    The Block Out

    🕥2-4 May
    📍Rotterdam

    We’re taking it Back to Buck. A weekend full of connecting with the core of Krump & Clowning through tournaments, masterclasses, and much more. Ready to get live?

    More info: instagram.com/theblockout 

    Off The Tracks

    🕥Saturday 4 July 12:00-23:00
    📍Jaarbeursplein Utrecht

    offthetracks.nl

    The 4th of July, Utrecht’s streetculture scene unites at the infamous Jaarbeursplein for “Off the Tracks”, a festival where the city shows and celebrates her rawer sides. Of course Freedom City is present here, at the spot of huge importance to Utrecht’s freestyle dance community. For more than 10 years now, dancers have been coming to the square, just beneath the big stairs, to practice, jam, battle and exchange together. 

    Freedom City brings dance battles and workshops. Line up TBA!

    The Notorious IBE

    🕥 7-10 August
    📍Heerlen, Limburg

    thenotoriousibe.com

    The Notorious IBE is one of the most legendary events in the freestyle dance scene. What started as a Breaking jam in a basement in Rotterdam, has grown to a 3-day international festival with visitors from more than 60 countries, and different dance styles being represented and connected together. 

    Freedom City has been part of The Notorious IBE since 2019. We’re back again this year with a 3vs3 Open Styles battle. We’re also giving the Krump community and culture a place at IBE by bringing the hypest Krump music and exhibition battles!
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