Red Bull BC One brings world champion breakers back to South Africa

Nineteen years after South Africa hosted the Red Bull BC One World Final at Soweto’s Orlando Power Station, some of the world’s best breakers are returning to the country.

The Red Bull BC One All-Star Tour will bring international breaking talent to Johannesburg, East London and Cape Town ahead of the Red Bull BC One South Africa National Final on Saturday, 5 September.

Two-time Red Bull BC One World Champion Lilou of France returns alongside fellow All Stars Alvin of Colombia, Lee of the Netherlands and Djibril of Belgium.

South Africa’s three-time national champion Courtnaeì Paul will join them for workshops and community events before defending her B-Girl title at the National Final in Cape Town.

The tour gives emerging South African breakers an opportunity to train and exchange knowledge with some of the discipline’s most accomplished names.

World champions return to South Africa

South Africa has a significant place in Red Bull BC One history.

In 2007, 16 of the world’s best B-Boys gathered at Orlando Power Station in Soweto for the World Final. It remains the first and only time the global final has been held on African soil.

Lilou competed at that event and now returns to South Africa nearly two decades later.

He is one of only four B-Boys to have won the Red Bull BC One World Final twice, taking the title in 2005 and again in 2009.

Colombia’s Alvin carries the legacy of Venezuela, where he competes with B-Boy Lil G, and is known for air power and musicality across two World Final wildcard appearances.

Lee, from Dutch crew The Ruggeds, finished runner-up at the 2022 World Final and competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Djibril, known for his signature “diamond wrist” freezes, made his first World Final wildcard appearance in 2025.

Courtnaeì Paul joins the All-Star Tour

Joining the international breakers is South Africa’s Courtnaeì Paul, a three-time BC One national champion, DJ and choreographer.

Paul will participate in the All-Star Tour, giving local breakers the opportunity to learn from both the international All Stars and South Africa’s reigning B-Girl champion.

The tour includes workshops in Johannesburg on 29 August and East London on 2 September, followed by a community jam and exchange in Cape Town on 3 September.

A final Cape Town workshop takes place on the morning of 5 September before the National Final later that day.

South Africa’s best breakers battle for the title

The Red Bull BC One South Africa National Final will take place at Thibault Square in Cape Town’s City Bowl on Saturday, 5 September, from 14:00 to 20:00.

Entry is free, with no ticket or prior registration required.

Qualifying cyphers held across East London, Cape Town and Johannesburg have produced four female and 16 male finalists.

The winning B-Boy and B-Girl will earn the opportunity to represent South Africa at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Toronto in November.

Paul returns to defend the B-Girl title after winning South Africa’s BC One crown three times, including back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025.

She has also represented South Africa at the BC One World Final in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

“Every year this field gets deeper, and that’s exactly why I keep coming back. Defending a title never gets easier; it gets sharper. I want the B-Girls coming up behind me to see that this stage belongs to us too.” Courtnae shared.

The B-Girls competing in Cape Town

The Top 4 B-Girls are:

Courtnaé
B-girl Baylie
Keisha Keesh
B-girl Jordin

The B-Boys competing in Cape Town

The Top 16 B-Boys are:

Bashi
Swae V
Nanky
Killy
Ranks
Boeraks
Rhythm
Shady
Chillo
Vector
Seeflehx
Jayden
Tankee
Warren
Labster
Toufeeq

Road to the Red Bull BC One World Final in Toronto

The South African champions will join breakers from around the world at the Red Bull BC One World Final at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto on Sunday, 29 November 2026.

It will be the first time the World Final has been held in Canada.

Before then, South African breakers have several opportunities to learn from the visiting All Stars.

Red Bull BC One South Africa event details

Johannesburg workshop
29 August
TMF Studio, Braamfontein
13:00 to 16:00

East London workshop
2 September
Hemingway’s Rooftop Venue
17:00 to 20:00

Cape Town workshop
5 September
Workshop 17, Watershed
10:00 to 12:00

Red Bull BC One South Africa National Final
5 September
Thibault Square, City Bowl, Cape Town
14:00 to 20:00
Free entry

Red Bull BC One All Stars Lilou, Alvin, Lee and Djibril, together with South African champion Courtnaeì Paul, will participate in the All-Star Tour programme, subject to the individual event schedule.

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