All World Waacking Battle 2v2: the dance event making its comeback at the Grand Palais this summer

Are you familiar with waacking? For several years, waacking has been making its mark on shows and nightlife in the capital. This trend, born in the United States, started in gay clubs in the 1970s and has enjoyed a revival in the 2000s. The dance draws on hip-hop and Afro-American and Latino styles, as well as the poses of movie stars, which are copied and amplified into swift, dramatic movements.

Today, waacking is very popular and practiced by professional dancers and amateurs alike. In Paris nightclubs, bars and even museums, people enjoy these impressive performances.

This summer, the Grand Palais also steps into the spotlight, with an unusual and unmissable day on Saturday 11 July 2026. Dance enthusiasts and performance lovers, don’t miss the second edition of the All World Waacking Battle 2vs2 : an event that pits dancers from all corners of the world against each other in a dynamic, festive show.

• To be read
• This week's top picks in Paris and Île-de-France for May 4–10, 2026.

To orchestrate this special day, the Grand Palais has enlisted choreographer Josépha Madoki. A waacking specialist, she draws influences from classical and contemporary dance as much as from urban arts. Josépha Madoki, also known as Princess Madoki, is staging a major dance battle that plunges us into the waacking culture and its various forms.

To judge the dancers, a panel of renowned figures from the scene gathers: Lip J (Korea), Ebony (Canada) and the two winners of the 2025 edition, Akuma Diva and Bogie (Taiwan). Of course, the artists need top-tier music to dance at the Grand Palais: behind the decks, we find DJ Naajet and MC Matyouz, along with various jams and showcases to be enjoyed throughout the event.

This event is the opening show of the Paris l'été Festival, an annual event that transforms the capital into a giant concert hall.