Red Bull BC One, the world’s most prestigious one-on-one breaking competition, is officially returning to Ireland in 2026, following a standout year for Irish breakers on the international stage.
The Red Bull BC One National Cypher will take place at Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre on Sunday, February 8th, bringing together the country’s top B-Boys and B-Girls to battle for the national title and the chance to represent Ireland on the world stage. The National Cypher gets underway at 8pm, promising a night of unmatched energy and top class breaking in the heart of the city.
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Breakers from across Ireland are invited to compete, with online registration open from today on the Red Bull website. The action kicks off with open qualifiers from 3pm, with intense competition expected for a place in that evening’s Red Bull BC One National Cypher.
There to oversee proceedings will be global breaking icon B-Boy Lilou, a two-time winner of the Red Bull BC One World Finals. The Algerian-French B-Boy is one of the most respected voices in the history of the competition and continues to shape the world of breaking on and off the floor.
Joining Lilou as judges of the National Cypher will be Ireland’s B-Boy Armstrong, the winner of the first-ever Red Bull BC One Cypher in Ireland in 2011, and B-Girl Ayu, who as one of Japan’s leading breakers had the honour of representing her country at the 2025 Red Bull BC One World Final in Tokyo.
Looking to defend their national titles in 2026 will be B-Boy Aleon and B-Girl Tara, who both represented Ireland last month in Japan, highlighting the rapid rise of Irish breaking on the global stage. Victory at the National Cypher will see Ireland’s champions earn the opportunity to compete at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Toronto in November 2026.
Speaking as registrations opened today, B-boy Aleon said: “Red Bull BC One is the pinnacle of breaking. Representing Ireland on the world stage last year was a huge moment for me, and coming back to defend my title at home makes it even more special. The standard in Ireland keeps getting higher every year – if you’re a breaker and you want to test yourself, this is where it happens.”
Tickets for Red Bull BC One National Cypher Ireland 2026 will go on sale in the New Year, when further details of a jam-packed weekend of breaking in Dublin will be announced. Whether you’re an established competitor, an up-and-coming breaker, or a fan of breaking culture, Red Bull BC One’s return to Ireland is not to be missed.
For more information and to register to compete, visit www.redbull.ie/bcone.
