Festival J2K
Urban cultures and hip-hop festival in Laval
2026
About Festival J2K
Festival J2K is Laval's premier hip-hop dance and urban culture festival, hosted every autumn by Styles J2K, the city's youth culture department, in partnership with the K-Danse Laval association. Over nine days in October, the festival takes over the Théâtre de Laval, the Salle Polyvalente, the Espace Culturel Scomam, the Espace Culturel Le Reflet in Saint-Berthevin, and the Espace du Maine in L'Huisserie, featuring professional company performances, dance battles, dance lectures, and shows for young audiences starting at age 4.
Festival J2K — edition 2026
The J2K Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary from October 10 to 18, 2026, in Laval, Saint-Berthevin, and L’Huisserie. Nine days of hip-hop dance featuring a Seven to Smoke battle, a dance-lecture on the history of breaking, and eight performances by companies from across France. The organizers have announced 20 shows, 11 professional companies, and 5 venues. Four of the ten public events are free, while others range from 2 to 9 €.
2026 Edition: Celebrating 15 Years of the J2K Festival
From October 10 to 18, 2026, Styles J2K and K-Danse Laval celebrate the 15th edition of the festival, under the official motto: “beyond entertainment.” Nine days, 20 performances, 11 professional companies, 5 venues, and 3 partner towns (Laval, Saint-Berthevin, and L’Huisserie).
What to expect
The program blends hip-hop choreographic creations, a battle, a dance-lecture, and shows for young audiences. The opening battle follows the Seven to Smoke format: eight dancers face off in duels, with the winner staying in the circle; the first to reach seven victories wins, in both breaking and all-styles categories. The “Héritage” dance-lecture by Supreme Legacy traces the journey of breaking, from the streets of the Bronx in the 1970s to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Two local Laval companies are featured alongside the guest teams: K-Danse Laval, with “ÉCHOES” and “Le Gendre,” and Cie Racines Carrées, whose piece “0 émission de CO2” is produced by the City of Laval – Festival J2K and the FJSL Luxembourg.
School sessions
Four shows are open to local schools at 2 € per student per performance: “Freestyle,” “Héritage,” and “Le Lièvre et la Tortue” for elementary schools (CM1-CM2), and “Freestyle,” “Héritage,” and “Gueules noires” for middle and high schools. Registration is handled via a specific form for each show, subject to availability.
Highlights Festival J2K 2026
- J2K “Seven to Smoke” opening battle, Saturday, October 10 at 4:30 PM, Salle Polyvalente, Laval (2 €)
- “Héritage,” dance-lecture by Supreme Legacy on the history of breaking, Thursday, October 15 at 8:30 PM, Espace Scomam (free)
- “Gueules noires,” Cie Niya, Friday, October 16 at 8:30 PM, Le Théâtre, Laval (4 €)
- “Ballet Bar,” Cie Pyramid, Saturday, October 17 at 8:30 PM, Le Théâtre, Laval (6 € and 9 €)
- “0 émission de CO2,” Cie Racines Carrées, closing performance Sunday, October 18 at 4:30 PM, Le Théâtre, Laval (free)
Programme Festival J2K 2026
Saturday, October 10, 2026
- 4:30 PM — J2K “Seven to Smoke” Battle · Bot’s Kingdom & J2K · Salle Polyvalente, Laval · two categories: Seven to Smoke Breaking and Seven to Smoke All Styles · family-friendly from age 5 · duration 1h30 · 2 €
Sunday, October 11, 2026
- 4:00 PM — “Sleeping Water,” Cie YZ (choreography by Yanka Pédron; performers Bouzid Ait Atmane, Kilian Herbunot, Ludovic Picsioneri, Santiago Gordon Gras; 30 min) and “ÉCHOES,” K-Danse Laval (performers Alice Bailleul, Servane Bélier, Jade Maabou, Manon Piaulet; 30 min) · Espace culturel Le Reflet, Saint-Berthevin · family-friendly from age 5 · duration 1h · 6 €, free under certain conditions
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- 6:00 PM — “Clabousse,” Cie Racine de Deux (artistic direction, choreography, and performance by Jordan Malfoy) · Espace du Maine, L’Huisserie · from age 4 · duration 35 min · 2 €
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- 3:00 PM — “Freestyle,” Cie 6e Dimension (concept and choreography by Séverine Bidaud; performers Cault Nzelo, Clément James Désiré, and Steeve Le Berre / DJ Bash) · dance, live music, theater, rap, and poetry · Salle Polyvalente, Laval · family-friendly from age 9 · duration 45 min · free
- 8:30 PM — “2e Printemps,” Cie Flowésie (artistic direction, choreography, and performance by Sandrine Monar; 45 min), with “Le Gendre,” K-Danse Laval (choreography and performance by Tony Tissier; 9 min) as the opening act · Espace culturel Le Reflet, Saint-Berthevin · from age 12 · free
Thursday, October 15, 2026
- 8:30 PM — “Héritage,” Cie Supreme Legacy · dance-lecture on the history of breaking, with Mickaël Pecaud and Lucas Pereira Freitas · Espace culturel Scomam, Laval · family-friendly from age 6 · duration 1h15 · free
Friday, October 16, 2026
- 8:30 PM — “Karactère Hip-Hop Acte 1,” followed by “Gueules noires,” Cie Niya (choreography by Rachid Hedli; performers Rachid Hedli, Jeremy Orville, Abderrahim Ouabou, Valentin Loval, Romuald Houziaux) · Le Théâtre, Salle B. Hendricks, Laval · family-friendly from age 7 · duration 1h, session scheduled until 10:00 PM · 4 €
Saturday, October 17, 2026
- 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM — “Le Lièvre et la Tortue,” Cie New Youth Posse (choreography, direction, and performance by Andy Andrianasolo & Anthony Mezence) · Espace Scomam, Laval · family-friendly from age 6 · duration 30 min · 2 € · two separate sessions, separate booking required
- 8:30 PM — “Ballet Bar,” Cie Pyramid · five rotating dancers, one phonograph, and 77 vinyl records · Le Théâtre, Salle B. Hendricks, Laval · family-friendly from age 6 · duration 1h · 6 € and 9 €
Sunday, October 18, 2026
- 4:30 PM — “6nergie,” amateur opening act, followed by “0 émission de CO2,” Cie Racines Carrées (choreography and direction by Nabil Ouelhadj; performers Nabil Ouelhadj and Valentin Loval; live piano by Tarik Sahli) and “ÉCHOES,” K-Danse Laval · Le Théâtre, Salle B. Hendricks, Laval · family-friendly from age 6 · duration 1h15 · free
School sessions
- Elementary schools (CM1-CM2): “Freestyle” (Cie 6e Dimension), “Héritage” (Supreme Legacy), “Le Lièvre et la Tortue” (New Youth Posse)
- Middle and high schools: “Freestyle,” “Héritage,” “Gueules noires” (Cie Niya)
- Participation: 2 € per student per performance, upon registration
Prices Festival J2K 2026
Sleeping Water + Échoes, October 11 at Le Reflet: 6 €, free for minors, students, people with disabilities, job seekers, members of Le Reflet and Le Lien, and subscribers of the “Tous uniques, tous unis” network, upon presentation of proof at the reception
Clabousse, October 13: 2 €
Freestyle, October 14: free
2e Printemps + Le Gendre, October 14: free
Héritage, October 15: free
Gueules noires, October 16: 4 €
Le Lièvre et la Tortue, October 17: 2 € (11:00 AM and 3:30 PM sessions, separate booking required)
Ballet Bar, October 17: 6 € and 9 €
0 émission de CO2 + Échoes, October 18: free
School sessions: 2 € per student per performance.
Bookings: J2K online ticketing via HelloAsso (K-Danse Laval association), Le Théâtre de Laval box office for Ballet Bar, Espace culturel Le Reflet box office for October 11.
Practical information — Festival J2K
Access
Festival headquarters: Espace Culturel Scomam, 19 rue Léo Lagrange, 53000 Laval. Shows are held at five locations in Laval, Saint-Berthevin, and L'Huisserie:
- Théâtre de Laval, Salle B. Hendricks, 34 rue de la Paix, 53000 Laval
- Espace Culturel Scomam, 19 rue Léo Lagrange, 53000 Laval
- Salle Polyvalente, Laval
- Espace Culturel Le Reflet, Saint-Berthevin
- Espace du Maine, L'Huisserie
By train: Laval SNCF station, served by the TGV from Paris-Rennes (1h20 from Paris-Montparnasse).
By car: Laval is accessible via the A81 (Paris-Rennes). Parking is available in the city center.
Pricing
From free to 9 € depending on the show. School sessions: 2 € per student per performance.
Reservations
Most tickets are available via the J2K online box office on HelloAsso (K-Danse Laval association). Tickets for "Ballet Bar" are available through the Théâtre de Laval box office. Tickets for the Saint-Berthevin event are available through the Espace Culturel Le Reflet box office. Full program available at stylesj2k.laval.fr.
Contact
Styles J2K, Espace Scomam, 19 rue Léo Lagrange, 53000 Laval
Tel: 02 43 49 86 59
Email: [email protected]
K-Danse Laval: [email protected]
Website: stylesj2k.laval.fr
Facebook: Festival J2K · Instagram: @stylesJ2K
Festival J2K: 15 years of hip-hop dance in Laval
Styles J2K, the youth culture department of the City of Laval, organizes Festival J2K every autumn alongside the K-Danse Laval association. The festival's calendar reflects its core mission: "beyond entertainment." As the organizers put it, the goal is to promote a hip-hop culture that is open to all generations and audiences. In 2026, the festival celebrates its 15th edition.
Shows, battles, and dance lectures
The program blends creations from professional companies across France, a dance battle, performances for young audiences, and a dance lecture. The 2026 edition features 20 performances and 11 companies, including school sessions. Two local Laval groups will be featured alongside the guest companies: K-Danse Laval and Cie Racines Carrées.
Five venues, three towns
The festival is spread across five venues in three towns within the Laval Agglomération area:
- Théâtre de Laval, Salle B. Hendricks, 34 rue de la Paix
- Espace Culturel Scomam, 19 rue Léo Lagrange in Laval, headquarters of Styles J2K
- Salle Polyvalente in Laval
- Espace Culturel Le Reflet in Saint-Berthevin
- Espace du Maine in L'Huisserie
Pricing and school sessions
Tickets range from free to 9 €. In 2026, four of the ten public events are free. Local schools have access to several shows at 2 € per student. The festival also relies on volunteers, who are recruited each year before the event begins.
Where does it take place — Festival J2K
Festival J2K in brief
History of Festival J2K
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Laval
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