Tāmaki Makaurau will again become the centre of the international hip hop and street dance world, with the World Dance Crew Championship returning to Auckland from April 12 to 17, 2027.
The championship will move into the Aotea Centre, bringing leading international crews together with some of Aotearoa’s best dancers across junior, youth and adult divisions.
The inaugural championship in 2025 attracted crews from the United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines, with The Royal Family, founded by internationally renowned choreographer Parris Goebel, winning the Open Super Crew Division.
Auckland’s Identity Dance Company, or IDCO, finished second, while Australia’s Home Base took third. IDCO has since added another international title, winning gold in the Varsity Division at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Arizona in August.
IDCO director Joshua Cesan says competing at home gives Aotearoa dancers the opportunity to showcase their talent on a world stage without leaving the country, with his crew now setting its sights on the WDCC title in 2027.
Some of the biggest performances will feature up to 40 dancers on stage at once in the Youth Super Crew and Open Super Crew divisions.
The event is also expected to bring international competitors, supporters and visitors into central Auckland, with Auckland Council backing the championship as part of the city’s major events programme.
Registrations of interest are now open to crews from Aotearoa and around the world, with further details on competitors, events and tickets to be announced ahead of April 2027.
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