The World DanceSport Federation will stage the World Breaking DanceSport Festival in Brisbane on 17–18 January 2026 at Brisbane City Hall, marking an international debut that represents a further step in the global development of Breaking. Led by the international governing body for DanceSport and Breaking, the event takes place against a backdrop of sustained federation growth and a strengthened relationship with the Olympic Movement.
The announcement follows a record year for WDSF in 2025, with licence numbers surpassing 22,800, the highest level of participation in the federation’s history. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, the federation has consolidated its international structure while expanding the competitive reach of its disciplines and reinforcing its institutional agenda.
From Paris 2024 to Brisbane 2026: breaking’s Olympic momentum
Breaking, an urban discipline combining creativity with high athletic demands, has seen accelerated development following its inclusion in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. That increased visibility has reinforced WDSF’s strategy to integrate the discipline within a stable competitive framework, aligned with Olympic standards in both calendar and criteria.
At the same time, the federation has expanded its global base through initiatives in education, athlete development and the growth of additional disciplines, including Disco, Hip Hop and Stage Dance. This cross-disciplinary expansion has strengthened an increasingly diverse international community and reinforced federative governance across different regions.
An international calendar linking tradition and emerging disciplines
Within this strategic framework, the WDSF DanceSport Festival Blackpool 2025, held at the Winter Gardens, stood out as one of the year’s key milestones. The event brought together Standard and Latin disciplines, reinforcing the link between DanceSport’s competitive tradition and its evolution towards new sporting expressions under the federation’s umbrella.
The 2026 agenda continues this line of continuity with the launch of the Brisbane festival, conceived as an international platform for Breaking. The competition programme will feature Adult 1vs1 B-Boys & B-Girls, Team Open 3vs3 (Mixed) and Youth 1vs1 B-Boys & B-Girls categories, combining elite international athletes with emerging talent.
Youth development, ranking pathways and international projection
The Brisbane festival will also play a strategic role in youth development, offering pathways to earn ranking points towards the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. This initiative aligns with WDSF’s vision of creating clear development pathways for the next generation of athletes within the Olympic calendar.
Federation President Shawn Tay highlighted that “our growth is driven by a shared passion for DanceSport and a commitment to inclusivity and innovation”. In the coming days, WDSF will make media materials, athlete profiles and visual resources available to support coverage of the festival and its wider international context.
