An international festival of hip hop returns to Blackpool where it will take on a distinctly local beat, set to spill out of the theatre into courtyards, studios and skate spots.
Blackpool’s hip hop scene is set to take over the town centre this weekend as local artists, dancers, skaters and musicians lead a packed programme around the return of Breakin’ Convention to the Grand Theatre.
For the third time, House of Wingz founders Sam and Aysh De Belle are the official local representatives for the internationally renowned hip hop dance theatre festival, bringing Blackpool’s grassroots scene to the forefront of one of the world’s most celebrated urban arts showcases.
The pair are co-producing and choreographing a collaboration between local dance collective Freefly Crew and Hot Sake – the live music project of Blackpool musicians Liam Baugh and Ryan Greaves – marking the first time this touring production has featured live music and dance together on stage.
For Sam and Aysh, the return of Breakin’ Convention is about more than a one-night performance. It is a chance to spotlight a thriving local creative community and open the theatre doors wider than ever.
“Me and Aysh are super excited to have Breakin’ Convention back in town,” says Sam. “It’s such an amazing vibe and gets people who wouldn’t visit the theatre usually through the doors.
“We’ll be bringing a vibe and making some noise ahead of the event to let people know it’s on, and also to have a free community offer alongside the main event.”
That community focus begins on Friday 5 June at House of Wingz with Rock the Coast Vol. 4 – a free evening of breaking and dance battles hosted upstairs, while downstairs in Ralph’s House skaters will compete in the latest Lord of the Wingz skate competition. A live art exhibition by Blackpool artist Ric Hulme adds another strand to the celebration.
Then on Saturday afternoon, before the theatre opens its doors, Matcham Court at the rear of the Grand Theatre will become an open-air block party, with music from two-time Red Bull Thre3style UK champion DJ Woody Madera, joined by local MCs, dancers and performers warming up the crowd before the evening show.
“Finally, after the main show we’ll be hosting an afterparty at the Grand, with DJ Woody Madera again, who has an AV version of the history of hip hop, featuring all the tunes and visuals behind him which he tours all over the world. This is culture, community and creativity in Blackpool.”
Since launching in 2004 under artistic director Jonzi D, the Sadler’s Wells-produced festival has become a defining force in hip hop theatre internationally, bringing together artists from across the world while championing local scenes in every city it visits.
Blackpool’s 2026 edition features an international line-up including Ivan Blackstock’s Olivier Award-winning TRAPLORD, a powerful exploration of masculinity and mental health, Lithuania’s pioneering urban dance company Low Air, and Los Angeles trio Femme Fatale, known for their precision choreography and genre-spanning style.
But in Blackpool, the festival arrives with a distinctly local beat. House of Wingz and its collaborators have spent years building creative spaces for young dancers and artists in the town. Their partnership with Breakin’ Convention turns the Grand Theatre into a meeting point between Blackpool’s street culture and an international movement.
Breakin’ Convention comes to Blackpool Grand Theatre on Saturday 6 June. Tickets are available via Blackpool Grand Theatre. Free community events begin on Friday 5 June at House of Wingz (Back Reads Rd) and continue throughout Saturday ahead of the evening performance.
