2026 New Taipei International Street Dance Championship Concludes! Top Three in Open-Style Category to Represent Taiwan in Korea This October

The 2026 New Taipei International Street Dance Championship concluded today (2nd) at Chihlee University of Technology, completing finals across all categories and attracting 258 domestic and international street dance talents and 62 youth choreography teams, with over a thousand spectators in attendance. This year's event, themed 'Dance Bold, Dance Global,' not only held its first overseas preliminary round in Malaysia but also continued its collaboration with the Cheonan International Dance Championship (CIDC) in Korea, while introducing a new dedicated category for dancers under 18. After intense preliminary and final rounds, Popping Kim successfully defended his title in the 'Open-Style One-on-One (Unrestricted Division),' with KAI and Da Yu securing second and third place respectively. The three awardees will represent Taiwan at the CIDC competition in Korea this October, solidifying New Taipei's role as a crucial launchpad for young dancers aiming for the global stage.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated that the New Taipei International Street Dance Championship has entered its 18th year, becoming a landmark event in the street dance community. This year marked the first expansion to overseas preliminaries, drawing participants from Australia, Japan, and beyond, highlighting the event's growing international visibility. Notably, Mr. Jeong Geun-eui, Acting Representative of the Cheonan Arts and Culture Foundation—the organizer of the Cheonan International Dance Festival—attended the event in Taiwan for the first time, symbolizing a significant step forward in New Taipei's international dance exchange. The city will continue to support youth in stepping onto the world stage through competition platforms, international collaboration, and talent development.

Ms. Chiu Chao-mei, Director of the New Taipei City Youth Bureau, emphasized that this year's edition not only increased the total prize pool but also introduced the 'Open-Style One-on-One (Youth Division)'—a dedicated track for dancers under 18—providing younger performers with more opportunities to showcase their skills on stage. Additionally, the top three winners in the 'Open-Style One-on-One (Unrestricted Division)' will continue to receive full subsidies to attend the CIDC international competition in Korea, enabling them to exchange skills and compete with global talents, turning the dream of dancing on the world stage into reality.

To further deepen international exchange, the event partnered for the first time with Malaysia's YAYZ SPACE DANCE STUDIO to host an overseas regional qualifier, inviting champion Barry Tong as a seeded competitor in the 'Open-Style One-on-One (Unrestricted Division).' Additionally, Locker Rana, champion of Korea's 'CIDC U19 National Selection,' participated in the finals of the 'Open-Style One-on-One (Youth Division).' By bringing international competitors onto the same stage, the event has created a cross-border exchange platform, connecting Taiwan's dancers with the global community and broadening their international horizons.

After two days of thrilling competition, the winners in each category were announced:

- Choreography Battle (Youth Division): HRC BEAST CREW - Breakdance One-on-One (Unrestricted Division): Legacyroc - Open-Style One-on-One (Youth Division): Wei-wei - Open-Style One-on-One (Unrestricted Division): Popping Kim (1st), KAI (2nd), Da Yu (3rd)

Popping Kim, winner of the 'Open-Style One-on-One (Unrestricted Division),' shared that this was his second time competing and that he wanted to challenge himself again in a major event. He expressed joy at winning and hopes to achieve strong results at the upcoming CIDC competition in Korea. Wei-wei, champion of the 'Open-Style One-on-One (Youth Division),' expressed gratitude for the newly added youth category, which allowed him to accumulate valuable competition experience before adulthood and grow into a more professional dancer.

The event also featured distinguished past champions as judges, including KAZANE, Japan's 2013 Hip Hop champion; Bboy Madman, Korea's 2015 Breakdance Team champion; and Diao (Diao Ga), Taiwan's 2024 'Open-Style One-on-One' champion and CIDC runner-up. Notably, KAZANE conducted a masterclass prior to the competition, sharing dance techniques and competition insights with young dancers. The Youth Bureau emphasized that the event will continue to evolve annually, supporting youth in expanding international exchange opportunities and shining on the global stage.

[2026 New Taipei International Street Dance Championship Winners]

* Choreography Battle (Youth Division) Winning Teams: - Champion: HRC BEAST CREW, NT$80,000 - Runner-up: Jie Jie, NT$50,000 - Third Place: THE MIXCIN, NT$30,000 - Popularity Award: YVIE GIRLS, NT$6,000

* Breakdance One-on-One (Unrestricted Division) Winners: - Champion: Legacyroc, NT$25,000 - Runner-up: Leezer, NT$15,000 - Third Place: Ex Aid, NT$10,000

* Open-Style One-on-One (Unrestricted Division) Winners: - Champion: Popping Kim, NT$25,000 - Runner-up: KAI, NT$15,000 - Third Place: Da Yu, NT$10,000

* Open-Style One-on-One (Youth Division) Winners: - Champion: Wei-wei, NT$20,000 - Runner-up: COOKIE, NT$10,000 - Third Place: Chen-yo, NT$5,000