RISING Reveals First Piece Of 2026 Programming With The Royal Family Dance Crew
Melbourne's music, art, and performance festival, RISING, returns next winter.
Royal Family Dance Crew (Credit: Supplied/RISING)
Melbourne’s winter festival, RISING, has unveiled its first piece of programming for its 2026 event, with The Royal Family Dance Crew set to present their street-dance spectacle, Defend The Throne.
The music, art, and performance festival will return to the Melbourne CBD from Wednesday, 27 May, to Monday, 8 June. The Royal Family Dance Crew will bring their new, all-ages showcase, Defend The Throne, to Hamer Hall on Sunday, 7 June.
Founded by choreographer Parris Goebel, the New Zealand dance crew have shaped the dance language of pop culture for over a decade.
They won the World Hip-Hop Dance Championships with three consecutive MegaCrew titles (2011–13). In addition to award wins, they established a reputation as the artists behind the moves of Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and more.
The crew’s Melbourne showcase will be high-octane and have no mercy, with a set spanning beloved hits across the last 14 years, coupled with never-before-seen choreography. The performance will be presented at RISING as part of the program’s inaugural Australian Dance Biennial, a new part of the festival.
RISING Artistic Director and CEO Hannah Fox said of the crew’s impact, “The Royal Family Dance Crew aren’t just cultural powerhouses, they’ve reshaped the global language of movement. Their work is fierce, precise and completely unfiltered.
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“It speaks to the energy we’re looking to bring to RISING in 2026, and our very first edition of the Australian Dance Biennial, a new pillar of the festival. To be presenting an artistic group whose impact is felt everywhere, from music videos to stadium stages, feels exactly right. Defend the Throne is going to hit Melbourne like a lightning bolt.”
Pre-sale tickets for The Royal Family Dance Crew’s Defend The Throne will be available from 11 am today, followed by the general sale on Friday, 5 December, at 11 am AEDT. You can find more ticketing information on the RISING Melbourne website.
In 2026, the launch of the Australian Dance Biennial will highlight a nationally representative selection of local dance, alongside significant international works. The program will also host a National Dance Gathering, a dedicated BlakFutures program, and an international delegate initiative.
More RISING announcements will arrive in 2026, with the full program set to drop in March.
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