Hip Hop Never Stop Festival
The festival dedicated to hip-hop culture and urban dances in the Grenoble metropolitan area
About Hip Hop Never Stop
Created in 2017 in Saint-Martin-d'Hères, the Hip Hop Never Stop Festival is a must-see event for hip-hop culture in the Grenoble metropolitan area. Co-organized by Saint-Martin-d'Hères en Scène and the company Citadanse, this multidisciplinary festival celebrates the diversity of hip-hop practices through dance performances, battles, masterclasses, concerts, street art exhibitions, and participatory workshops. Open to amateurs and professionals alike, it promotes values of openness, transmission, and creativity.
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Hip Hop Never Stop Festival: The Celebration of Urban Cultures in Saint-Martin-d'Hères
Since its creation in 2017, the Hip Hop Never Stop Festival has established itself as a major event on the hip-hop scene in the Grenoble metropolitan area. Supported by Saint-Martin-d'Hères en Scène and co-directed by the company Citadanse, founded in 2007 by Hachemi Manaa and Sylvain Nlend, this festival embodies the values of openness, diversity, and creativity that characterize hip-hop culture.
Strong Territorial Roots
Saint-Martin-d'Hères and the Grenoble metropolitan area have a rich history with hip-hop culture, notably thanks to emblematic figures like choreographer Bouba Landrille Tchouda. The festival is part of this lineage by offering a space where novices and experts can express their talent and share their passion for urban dances. Over the years, it has become a multidisciplinary celebration of urban cultures, radiating far beyond the commune's borders.
A Rich and Multidisciplinary Program
Each edition of the Hip Hop Never Stop Festival unfolds an ambitious program over three to four weeks, mixing hip-hop dance performances, breaking battles, concerts, street art exhibitions, masterclasses, and participatory workshops. The biggest French and international hip-hop dance companies perform on the festival's stages, offering bold creations that push the boundaries of the genre.
Exceptional Dance Performances
Each year, the festival invites renowned companies that present choreographic pieces blending hip-hop, contemporary dance, and other influences. Among the artists hosted over the editions, we find Kader Attou (Compagnie Accrorap), the company Zahrbat, the company Mehdia, Carmel Loanga, the company Free Styles, as well as international collectives bringing together dancers from Bolivia, Cyprus, Italy, and Greece.
Battles and Competitions
Battles are a highlight of the festival. These spectacular and friendly choreographic duels pit dancers and teams against each other in various formats (3 vs 3, open battles). The closing battle, a true unifying event, brings together amateurs and professionals in an electrifying atmosphere.
Masterclasses and Workshops
The festival offers a significant participatory component with masterclasses in house dance, breaking, freestyle football, and other urban disciplines. Parent-child workshops allow families to discover hip-hop dance together, while intensive courses like the Hip Hop Camp offer teenagers a complete immersion into the world of urban dance.
A Festival Open to All
True to the hip-hop spirit, the festival places a central emphasis on transmission and accessibility. Approximately 1,400 students from Saint-Martin-d'Hères public schools benefit from dedicated school sessions each year. Open stages allow amateurs to perform every evening, creating a unique link between established artists and emerging dancers.
Metropolitan Reach
The Hip Hop Never Stop Festival spreads throughout the Grenoble metropolitan area thanks to a network of partner venues: L'Heure bleue and Espace culturel René Proby in Saint-Martin-d'Hères, MC2 and Grand Théâtre in Grenoble, L'Amphi in Pont-de-Claix, La Rampe in Échirolles, L'Odyssée in Eybens, L'Ilyade in Seyssinet-Pariset, as well as stage spaces on the university campus. This territorial network strengthens the festival's roots and allows it to reach a large and diverse audience.
Hip Hop Never Stop — edition 2026
The Hip Hop Never Stop Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with an exceptional 10th edition from January 16 to February 7, 2026. Fifteen major events marked this anniversary, combining dance performances, battles, masterclasses, and shows in eleven venues across the Grenoble metropolitan area.
10th Edition - The Festival's 10th Anniversary
The Hip Hop Never Stop Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary from January 16 to February 7, 2026, with a special edition celebrating a decade of creativity, transmission, and diversity in hip-hop practices. This anniversary edition featured 15 major events across 11 cultural venues in the Grenoble metropolitan area.
Opening with the Zahrbat Company
The festival opened on Friday, January 16, at 8 PM at L'Heure bleue with Malmus, a creation by the Zahrbat company. This performance offered a sensory and poetic exploration of reality where seven dancers questioned our foundations and our relationship with the ground, providing a striking introduction to this anniversary edition.
A Rich and Varied Program
Among the notable performances of this edition, L'Ivresse des lucioles by the Carmel Loanga company celebrated youth and freedom with infectious energy. Joga Bonito by the Free Styles company offered a bold fusion of hip-hop dance and freestyle football, creating a hybrid and jubilant show. The performance Artizans paid a vibrant tribute to the battle legends of the 1990s-2000s, retracing the heritage of the hip-hop movement.
Women's Performances and Breaking
The performance Be.Girl highlighted women's breaking, while Héritage traced the history of breaking since its origins. These creations demonstrated the diversity and vitality of the contemporary hip-hop scene.
Workshops and Masterclasses
The participatory component of this anniversary edition was particularly rich: a house dance masterclass on January 28, a freestyle football masterclass on January 22, a breaking masterclass, a giant parent-child workshop on January 24, and professional workshops on February 7. An urban art exhibition was presented at L'Heure bleue throughout the festival.
Spectacular Closing
The closing battle, the festival's highlight, featured an unprecedented scenography specially designed to mark the event's 10th anniversary. Nearly 1,400 students from Saint-Martin-d'Hères schools attended dedicated school sessions, confirming the festival's commitment to transmission.
Programme Hip Hop Never Stop 2026
2026 Program
- January 16: Malmus - Compagnie Zahrbat (L'Heure bleue) - Opening
- January 22: Freestyle football masterclass
- January 24: Giant hip-hop parent-child workshop
- January 28: House dance masterclass
- January-February: L'Ivresse des lucioles - Cie Carmel Loanga
- January-February: Joga Bonito - Cie Free Styles (hip-hop dance and freestyle football)
- January-February: Artizans - Tribute to the battle legends of the 1990s-2000s
- January-February: Héritage - The history of breaking
- January-February: Be.Girl - Breaking for women
- February 7: Professional workshops
- February 7: Closing battle with anniversary scenography
In total, 15 major events across 11 cultural venues in the Grenoble metropolitan area.
Highlights Hip Hop Never Stop 2026
Highlights of the 2026 Edition
- 10th anniversary of the festival with special scenography
- 15 major events in 11 partner venues in the metropolitan area
- Malmus by the Zahrbat company as the opening performance
- Joga Bonito: unprecedented fusion of hip-hop dance and freestyle football
- Artizans: tribute to the pioneers of battles from the 1990s-2000s
- Be.Girl: spotlight on women's breaking
- Masterclasses in house dance, breaking, and freestyle football
- Approximately 1,400 students welcomed during school sessions
- Closing battle with unprecedented scenography for the 10th anniversary
Prices Hip Hop Never Stop 2026
Practical information — Hip Hop Never Stop
Practical Information
Main Venue
The festival primarily takes place at L'Heure bleue, the performance hall of Saint-Martin-d'Hères en Scène, located at 2 avenue Jean Vilar, 38400 Saint-Martin-d'Hères. Other partner venues also host events throughout the Grenoble metropolitan area.
Partner Venues
- Espace culturel René Proby - 2 place Édith Piaf, Saint-Martin-d'Hères
- MC2: Grenoble - 4 rue Paul Claudel, Grenoble
- Grand Théâtre de Grenoble - Grenoble
- L'Amphi - Pont-de-Claix
- La Rampe - Échirolles
- L'Odyssée - Eybens
- L'Ilyade - Seyssinet-Pariset
Prices
Ticket prices range from €5 to €17 depending on the performance. A discounted rate is applied from the 2nd show, upon presentation of the first ticket, regardless of the venue. Some workshops and activities are offered at a flat rate of €5 (ages 6+). Admission is free for students from Saint-Martin-d'Hères public schools for school sessions.
Ticketing
Tickets are available online on the Saint-Martin-d'Hères en Scène website or directly at the L'Heure bleue box office. Advance booking is recommended, as some shows sell out quickly.
Access
By tram: Line B, stop "Bibliothèques universitaires" or "Gabriel Fauré". Saint-Martin-d'Hères is easily accessible from Grenoble city center by tram.
By bus: Several lines of the TAG network serve the L'Heure bleue district.
By car: From the A480 motorway, take the "Domaine universitaire / Saint-Martin-d'Hères" exit. Parking spaces are available near L'Heure bleue.
By bike: Bicycle racks are installed in front of L'Heure bleue. The nearest Métrovélo station is a few minutes away.
Contact
- Phone: 04 76 14 08 08
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: culture.saintmartindheres.fr
Accessibility
L'Heure bleue is accessible to people with reduced mobility. For any specific accessibility requests, please contact the festival team by phone or email.
Practical Tips
- Consult the full program on the Saint-Martin-d'Hères en Scène website before your visit.
- Book your tickets in advance, especially for the main program performances.
- Take advantage of discounted rates by attending multiple shows.
- Masterclasses and workshops require prior registration.
- The festival offers activities suitable for all ages, including for children from 5 years old.
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Where does it take place — Hip Hop Never Stop
L'Heure bleue
2 avenue Jean Vilar, 38400 Saint-Martin-d'Hères