Malmö Dance Week is back — For people, by people.

Running throughout Week 44 at venues across Malmö

Malmö Dance Week began as an initiative by dancers to create a platform where everyone is welcome to explore the multifaceted world of dance. Over the years, the festival has grown into an international stage for some of the world’s best dancers and tens of thousands of visitors each year. Now the festival is back again—and this year, the focus is on community and the DIY spirit, which are more important than ever.

– Malmö Dance Week has been around for 8 years. Over the years, we’ve seen the festival evolve from a passionate idea, survive a pandemic, and then grow into an internationally recognized festival. This year, we’ve chosen to adopt a more DIY approach—both to explore new forms of expression and to continue creating a festival rich in content,” says Viktor Fröjd, dancer, choreographer, and artistic director of the festival.

“The festival is nothing without its visitors. We’ve put a lot of energy into making the festival feel like a community. The audience, the participants, and the dancers create the magic together. The week is a collective experience by people, for people,” says Viktor Fröjd.

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Over the years, the festival has attracted legends, curious Malmö residents, and the global dance scene. During the week, the lineup includes a variety of performances, secret concerts, clubs, and—not least—the international street dance competition Hip Hop Weekend, which draws dancers from all over the world.

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Significant International Interest in the Festival

In addition to a program packed with international artists, speakers, dancers, and DJs, Malmö Dance Week also draws organizers and producers from around the world. This year, some of the most renowned dance producers are visiting to experience the festival program.

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“It really proves that when the local meets the international, something special happens, and over the years we’ve seen how this has ultimately created new opportunities and enriched the cultural scene. That’s perhaps what makes Malmö so unique,” says Viktor Fröjd.

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Some examples of big-name performers coming to the festival include house dance legend Ejoe Wilson from New York, Toyin (US), who danced alongside Doechii in the hugely successful music video for the song “Denial Is A River”—and the legendary Kapela from France, who is returning as a guest.

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Hip Hop Weekend 2026

Hip Hop Weekend is a dance competition and the grand finale of one of Europe’s largest street dance festivals; the event takes place on October 30–31 and draws a full house every year with people from all corners of the world. Hip Hop Weekend is held at the Moriska Paviljongen, where some of the world’s top dancers compete for the title in various street dance styles. You won’t want to miss this. Bring the whole family, your friends, or your neighbor—we promise they’ll love it.

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Secret Experiences — Now a Recurring Feature

Three years ago, the festival experimented with secret morning concerts where the only thing the audience knew was that they’d get a croissant, coffee, and a fantastic musical experience. This year, the secret theme has therefore also spilled over into one of the nightclubs and the performance format “A Little Bit of Everything”— a full evening at Inkonst filled with surprises and diverse artistic expressions. In addition to secret performances, the evening will feature “SHOUT” by Jens Trinidad. At Dansstationen at Palladium, you can see three critically acclaimed works: “Landscapes” by Anna Öberg, “STUCK” by Mounia Nassanger, and “Infinétude” by Alma Söderberg.

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Hur skapar vi hållbara dansevenemang?

Festivalen bjuder som vanligt även in till samtal för att utforska, diskutera och lyssna till tankar och teorier om bland annat dans. Farah och Olivia från festivalen Flavorama (AT) delar med sig av sin kunskap och sina erfarenheter kring en central fråga: Vad krävs för att skapa ett dansevenemang och driva det på ett hållbart sätt? Dessutom håller Lynnée Denise en lyssningssession med samtal om houselegendaren Larry Levan. Sophia Wekesa (FI) bjuder in oss att utforska hur antirasism kan gå från teori till praktik.

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New and Recurring Collaborations

Malmö Dance Week collaborates with local venues throughout Malmö. New this year is our collaboration with STPLN, Opopoppa, Skånes Konstförening, and Work In Progress. For the second year in a row, Malmö Dance Week takes over Kronprinsen with activities for the whole family. Skånes Dansteater, where we’re presenting four performances, has also expanded its new “bågscenen” stage, where artists including Jean-Baptiste Baele and Rebecca Livaniou will showcase their work.

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This Year’s Parties and Clubs

On Friday, House Night will take place as per tradition. This year, Lynnée Denise will be at the decks. Lynnée Denise is a DJ, writer, and cultural figure who has played music from her record collection all over the world. In the adjacent room, the sixth edition of Donuts Beatbattles will be held, organized and curated by Cult Classics and Alleycat Anthem.

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On Saturday, the beloved afterparty takes over Plan B completely, featuring DJs such as Kapela (FR), DJ Wekesa (FI), DJ Stew (FR), and DJ Yared (SE). Anyone who’s been to Hip Hop Weekend afterparties before knows it doesn’t end there. Surprises and unexpected twists are guaranteed throughout the evening.

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Free Activities

The festival takes place during fall break week, and as usual, the program is packed with activities for children and teens who want to try out different forms of street dance. For the second year in a row, we’re also partnering with Kronprinsen. From Tuesday through Thursday, children and teens ages 6 and up will have the chance to try dancing, drawing, and experiencing culture.

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See the full program at www.malmodanceweek.se

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