- Presented by KISS FM, HipHop Ball Berlin returns to the Rotes Rathaus on November 14, 2026.
- Around 100 artists from the worlds of music, dance, visual arts and performance will take part in this year’s programme.
- Highlights include the Urban Waltz, a graffiti art exhibition, DJ sets, performance art and a special midnight performance.
- An exclusive press conference for media representatives will take place on November 13, 2026.
Berlin, October 19, 2026 – Following its successful Berlin debut in 2025, HipHop Ball, presented by KISS FM, returns to the Rotes Rathaus on November 14, 2026. Around 100 artists from the worlds of music, dance, visual arts and performance will bring the second Berlin edition to life, once again uniting worlds that may seem worlds apart: traditional ballroom culture and HipHop, heritage and contemporary expression, formal elegance and urban creativity.
The inaugural Berlin edition in 2025 demonstrated the potential of bringing these cultural worlds together. Building on that success, HipHop Ball 2026 will transform several spaces within the historic Rotes Rathaus into vibrant settings for music, dance, graffiti and live performance. The result is a platform for cultural exchange and fresh perspectives, celebrating the diversity of HipHop in all its forms.
Originally founded in Vienna by Sajeh Tavassoli in 2016, HipHop Ball made its Berlin debut in 2025.
A Programme Bridging Ballroom Tradition and HipHop Culture
Doors open at 7:30 PM, with an urban art exhibition by artist Olivier Kéros on display throughout the evening. The official programme begins at 8:30 PM with an opening ceremony by the Flying Steps Academy. The Urban Waltz, accompanied live by violinist Kitti Karina Farkas, brings together the elegance and tradition of classical ballroom dancing with the energy and expressive power of HipHop. The programme in the Festsaal, the Rotes Rathaus’s grand ballroom, continues with HipHopClass, featuring young performers travelling to Berlin from schools in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Hamburg and Paris. They will be followed by a performance from rising Viennese rapper Lionella, known as LIO.N3LLA.
Throughout the evening, guests can look forward to special remixes, DJ sets, the Chain of Glory awards, performance art and live musical acts.
This year’s Chain of Glory, curated by Alica Paeske, Managing Director of sPeranto, will honour four women for their longstanding contributions to HipHop culture:
- Alma Wellner Bou, who empowers girls and young women through rap with SISTER*QUEENS.
- Fidan Sirin, a dancer who promotes cultural exchange through her organisation HaBer project e.V.
- Lina Burghausen, also known as Mona Lina, a music industry professional and founder of the 365 Female MCs initiative.
- Nelody Ahlroth, dancer and choreographer.
The awards ceremony will be followed by a live performance from singer Kati Gazela.
At midnight, Babatunde Akinboboye will present his acclaimed HipHopera, a distinctive fusion of opera and HipHop, bringing his artistic vision from Atlanta to Berlin.
The evening’s programme in the Festsaal will be hosted by Big Moe and Josi Trapp, with the traditional closing dance bringing the celebrations to a close.
Meanwhile, the World of HipHop Floor will showcase urban dance and music, emerging talent and creative collaborations between DJs and instrumentalists. Performers include Nika, Drob Dynamic, MzudemK & TingelTangelPaul, Yetundey, NAGOMI, and Li.moon & Masurka. The programme will be hosted by Karo, Mille and Gianluca Meli from KISS FM. Providing the soundtrack with special remixes and DJ sets are Odizz, Lil Dirty, Lil Ma, Hany, DianaMaracuja, Lito Bolton and King Halim.
Further highlights and surprises will be revealed exclusively on the night of the Ball.
A Ball Celebrating Connection, Diversity and Inclusion
Beyond the performances, guests can enjoy a red carpet experience, a photo station and dedicated spaces for networking, conversation and meaningful encounters.
The event is supported by partners including Allianz Kundler, rentitNOW, Mandaro, Treehouse, Lord of Events and HYGH. Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, has once again assumed patronage of HipHop Ball Berlin in 2026. This year’s charity partners are LifeTeachUs, Stiftung Bildung and sPeranto, three organisations working in different ways to advance education, access to opportunities and social inclusion.
“Having HipHop Ball return to the Rotes Rathaus for a second year means something truly special to me. Berlin is my home, a city where different cultures, generations and ways of life come together every single day. That is exactly the diversity we want to celebrate through HipHop Ball: bringing traditional ballroom culture and HipHop together as equals, right in the heart of Berlin. Seeing this idea grow into a space where people connect who might otherwise never cross paths is incredibly meaningful to me,” says Sajeh Tavassoli, Founder and Organiser of HipHop Ball.
Exclusive Press Conference on November 13, 2026
On the day before HipHop Ball, the organising team, together with KISS FM, will host an exclusive press conference in the Festsaal of the Rotes Rathaus. The discussion will explore the vision behind HipHop Ball and why bold ideas are essential to creating lasting spaces for cultural expression. Speakers will include founder Sajeh Tavassoli, Stefan Lechermann, Michael Kröger, David Patrick Kundler and Konstantin Patsalides.
Following the discussion, media representatives will have the opportunity to meet the speakers and conduct individual interviews.
Catering will be provided, and attending journalists will receive exclusive goodie bags courtesy of Alyéa Cosmetics.
Members of the media are also warmly invited to attend HipHop Ball on November 14 at the Rotes Rathaus and cover the event.
Advance media accreditation is required for both the press conference and the Ball.
Register here: https://forms.gle/nsKwEv4vhxD99jEU9
Press Contact & Accreditation
Kathrin Feit
c/o BETTERTRUST
Email: ka.feit@bettertrust.de
Phone: +49 157 7744 2619
About HipHop Ball
Founded in Vienna in 2016, where it has since become an established fixture on the city’s cultural calendar, HipHop Ball successfully expanded to Berlin in 2025. The event brings together the traditions of classical ballroom culture with the diverse artistic expressions of HipHop. Music, dance, graffiti, performance, fashion and urban culture meet the timeless elements of a traditional ball. More than a one-night celebration, HipHop Ball creates a platform for artistic exchange, meaningful encounters and connections between different communities, generations and creative disciplines, all on equal footing.
For more information, visit www.hiphopball-official.com.
