South Africa’s breakers battle for a place on the world stage

The national campaign opened in Johannesburg on Sunday, 19 July, where the Urban Playground at Fourways Mall hosted the first qualifier. B-Boy Barshie emerged as the winner, securing his place at the National Final in September after years of competing in a breaking scene where opportunities of this scale remain limited.

“You don’t really have a lot of competitions like this in South Africa, so this was really good,” Barshie said. He will now turn his attention to the National Final, where he will compete for a place at the World Final.

B-Girl Baylie, the only woman in the Johannesburg bracket, also made her mark by battling against a field of B-Boys to claim the B-Girl title. For her, the competition provided an opportunity to test both her physical endurance and mental strength.

“It teaches you a lot; it pushes my stamina and my power. That helps a lot; it prepares me for what I have to get ready for,” she said.

The qualifying series continues in East London on 25 July at Hemingways Mall before moving to Cape Town on 1 August at Makers Landing Waterfront. The qualifiers will determine the Top 16 B-Boys and Top 8 B-Girls, with competitors judged on technique, originality, musicality and performance.

With no rehearsed routines, the format places the focus squarely on the individual breaker’s ability to respond to the music, adapt to their opponent and perform under pressure.

The winners from each city, alongside selected wildcards, will progress to the National Final in Cape Town on 6 September. From there, one B-Boy and one B-Girl will be selected to represent South Africa at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Toronto on 29 November, where they will compete against leading breakers from around the world.

The competition is now in its 19th year in South Africa and has become an established fixture in the country's breaking community. Last year's champions, B-Boy Toufeeq and B-Girl Courtnaé Paul, successfully defended their titles, setting a high standard for this year's competitors.

“Red Bull BC One is more than a competition; it’s a celebration of culture, creativity, and resilience. Every year the level climbs, and I can’t wait to see who steps up in 2026,” Paul said.

Founded in 2004 in Biel, Switzerland, Red Bull BC One has grown into a major international one-on-one breaking competition, with more than 85 qualifiers held across 35 countries each year. Previous World Finals have taken place in cities including Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris and Tokyo.

Toronto will host the World Final for the first time this year, with South Africa's qualifiers hoping to carry the country's growing breaking culture onto the international stage.