Hip Hop Winter Festival

Date: February 14 – February 15, 2026
Location: HIP HOP SURVIVORS Premises, 36 Rue du Colibri, Villeneuve-d’Ascq

Program Description

The Hip Hop Winter Festival is a two-day celebration of Hip Hop culture designed for participants of all ages and levels, offering both artistic discovery and deep engagement with the four pillars of Hip Hop: MCing, DJing, breakdance, and graffiti art. This free festival creates a festival-style atmosphere at the HIP HOP SURVIVORS premises and invites the local community, regional practitioners, and emerging artists to take part in a dynamic program that blends creation, performance, discussion, and community interaction.

Day One – Artistic Exploration & Workshops

The festival begins at 10:00 a.m. with an open-air DJ showcase, where emerging DJs from the region spin classic Hip Hop tracks alongside contemporary blends. This sets the tone for the rest of the day, emphasizing the rhythm and roots of the culture. At 11:30 a.m., the first dedicated workshop begins: “Beats & Rhythms,” a DJ and beatmaking session led by a local DJ collective. Participants will learn essential techniques for mixing, scratching, and beat layering. This session emphasizes hands-on learning, encouraging attendees to experiment with turntables and digital controllers.

After a lunch break, the afternoon features two parallel workshops: Breakdance Fundamentals and Graffiti Expression. The breakdance workshop focuses on essential movements, floorwork, and foundational footwork patterns, while the graffiti session invites aspiring visual artists to explore lettering, color theory, and legal art creation under the mentorship of experienced graffiti artists. At 4:00 p.m., all participants reconvene for an open cypher session; dancers, rappers, and poets alike take turns showcasing their creativity in an informal, supportive environment.

The first day concludes at 7:00 p.m. with a community discussion on the evolution of Hip Hop culture, its social impact, and how participants can contribute to its growth in their own communities. This talk encourages dialogue between generations and includes Q&A segments to foster deeper understanding.

Day Two – Performances, Battles & Immersive Sessions

Day Two opens at 10:00 a.m. with a performance by a regional youth dance crew, followed by an MC workshop titled “Voice & Flow.” Aspiring emcees learn lyrical composition tools, story-telling techniques, and stage presence strategies. Meanwhile, another group attends a music production workshop introducing them to digital audio workstations (DAWs) and sampling.

At 1:00 p.m., local breakdance crews compete in friendly battles, judged by guest practitioners who provide constructive feedback. This session is designed not as a high-stakes competition but as a celebration of skill, creativity, and mutual respect. The afternoon’s highlight is a graffiti mural project; over several hours, attendees collaborate to create a large-scale mural that will remain as a permanent testament to the festival on the premises.

The festival wraps up at 6:30 p.m. with a showcase concert featuring performances from local rappers, DJs, and spoken-word artists. Throughout the day, free refreshments are available, and creative booths invite attendees to explore Hip Hop fashion, zines, and cultural history. As an immersive community event, the Hip Hop Winter Festival embodies the spirit of expression, collaboration, and cultural pride at the heart of HIP HOP SURVIVORS.