Breakin' Convention, the international festival of hip hop dance theatre, announces line up for 2025

A celebration of hip hop culture, the world-renowned festival Breakin’ Convention returns to Sadler’s Wells in Angel over the first weekend in May. Friday night heralds Fierce Friday, a brand new Breakin’ Convention event headlined by The Ruggeds and Mounia Nassangar at Sadler’s Wells Theatre which opens the festival in style and will be hosted by BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ Fee Mak. 

Founded, created and programmed by hip hop innovator Jonzi D, Breakin’ Convention is the world’s biggest festival of hip hop dance theatre, held annually at Sadler’s Wells since 2004. Over its twenty-one years, it has become a global platform celebrating hip hop culture through dance, performance, and artistic expression. Featuring both UK and international artists, the festival honours hip hop’s roots while pushing creative boundaries, proving that the culture remains as relevant and multi-faceted as ever. 

Across the weekend, Breakin’ Convention showcases an extensive range of UK hip hop talent throughout the festival, as well as international acts from France, The Netherlands, and beyond. Taking over the entirety of Sadler’s Wells in Angel, audiences are encouraged to join from 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. As always, there will be live DJ sessions from award winning mix masters, dance workshops, live graffiti, cyphers, freestyle sessions, and soul food to enjoy, as well as the performances in the theatre. Fierce Friday, as well as the weekend’s programming, welcomes audiences aged 12 and over, with parental discretion advised for younger attendees.  

Breakin’ Convention’s festival programme displays a full range of hip hop dance styles including breaking, popping, krumping, threading, funk and waacking. Across the weekend, audiences will be able to see performances from some of the world’s leading acts, including Mounia Nassangar (France), The Ruggeds (Netherlands), Saïdo Lehlouh (France), Birdgang (UK), Simeon ‘Kardinal’ Campbell (UK), Chandenie Gobardhan (Netherlands), Keron Proverbs (UK), Lauren Scott (UK), Max Revell (UK), WeGrowTogether (UK) and Jamaal O'Driscoll (UK) with more exciting names to be announced.   
 
In 2025, as well as the first iteration of Fierce Friday, Breakin’ Convention will also host a family-friendly weekend event at the brand new theatre Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford. The free event Breakin’ Convention Family Jam will throw open the doors to future breakers and poppers on Friday 25 – Saturday 26 April, and will include performances in the community dance space in the foyer aka The Dance Floor, food, community showcases, workshops, sample sessions, and DJs. Also new to Sadler’s Wells East in 2025 is Academy Breakin’ Convention, the new full-time further education programme for 16 to 19-year-olds which offers training in all aspects of hip hop – the first of its kind. Find out more information here Home - Academy Breakin' Convention (academybreakinconvention.com). 

This year’s Breakin’ Convention Festival at Sadler’s Wells Theatre is aimed at audiences aged 12+. For more information about the history of hip hop, and a guide to Breakin’ Convention, visit Our Hip Hop Guide — Breakin' Convention.