URBX Festival 2026: Opening and First Battles in Roubaix
Summary
- URBX 2026 in brief
- Eesah Yasuke: a carte blanche to ignite La Condition Publique
- Why "Yasuke"?
- From Afro Live XXL to Explosion Rap, a high-tension first weekend
- All 4 New G: why this battle is the real kick-off of dance?
- The rest of the program: from Merzouki to the Grand'Place, the fire spreads
- Practical information
- ROUBAIX STRIKES THE MATCH
One June evening, in a former textile wasteland of Roubaix. On the 11th, a spark lights up at La Condition Publique, and the entire Lille metropolitan area will catch fire. Behind this announced blaze? The URBX Festival 2026, fifth edition, its patron Eesah Yasuke and its first battles.
Roubaix is about to strike the match: URBX returns from June 11 to 21, 2026.
URBX 2026 in brief
- Dates: from June 11 to 21, 2026, 5th edition
- Locations: Roubaix and Lille metropolitan area — over 20 events, 10 venues
- Opening: carte blanche Eesah Yasuke, La Condition Publique, Thursday June 11 (6pm-11pm, free)
- First weekend: Afro Live XXL (June 12) and Explosion Rap at La Piscine basketball court (June 13)
- First battle: All 4 New G, Ballet du Nord, Sunday June 14 (2pm-6pm, free)
Eesah Yasuke: a carte blanche to ignite La Condition Publique
On Thursday June 11, from 6pm to 11pm, the concert hall of La Condition Publique is handed over to a single artist. Eesah Yasuke, rapper born in Roubaix and patron of this fifth edition, unfolds a carte blanche designed as a journey through "her" Roubaix. Free entry, limited capacity: book without delay.
On the menu for this opening: voices that make the covered street vibrate, electrifying choreographic performances, a giant mural painted live and a recording studio open to your freestyles. A popular feast delights the neighborhood, then the night closes in club mode with a DJ set that fuses ancestral rhythms and futuristic beats. Everything slowly ignites, and that's intentional.
At Project X Paris, this energy speaks to us: that of a working-class city turning its brick into a stage. The patron is not here to inaugurate a festival. She comes to light hers.
Why "Yasuke"?
Eesah Yasuke's stage name pays tribute to Yasuke, considered the first black samurai of Japan in the 16th century. Quite a program for an artist who wields the pen like a sword.
Vibe check: Peppa Pig, the clip that turns outrage into collective energy.
From Afro Live XXL to Explosion Rap, a high-tension first weekend
Friday June 12, La Condition Publique continues with Afro Live XXL, from 8pm to 2am. DJs and collectives mix afro, hip-hop and Caribbean sounds until dawn. The temperature rises a notch.
Saturday June 13, change of scenery: the basketball court of La Piscine museum hosts Explosion Rap at 8pm, outdoors. On the asphalt, two names from the local scene, Fresh la Douille and Elyes TNF. A free concert at the foot of an art deco museum — the perfect bold contrast.
Still hesitating about your weekend program? Block both evenings.
All 4 New G: why this battle is the real kick-off of dance?
A battle, for the uninitiated? Two dancers face to face, a circle, a jury, and a crowd that decides as much as the judges. No decor, no net: just the body, the music and the guts.
Sunday June 14, from 2pm to 6pm, Ballet du Nord hosts All 4 New G, the festival's first public battle, organized with the collective Dans La Rue La Danse. Young talents defend their universe before a jury of experienced urban culture actors. Transmission, respect, self-surpassing — the founding values of hip-hop, in a benevolent competition version.
The day before, private workshops prepare the dancers. On Sunday, the hall ignites. Free entry, again.
The rest of the program: from Merzouki to the Grand'Place, the fire spreads
The spark of the first weekend will not die down. On June 16 and 17, choreographer Mourad Merzouki presents Beauséjour at the Colisée in Roubaix. On the 19th, the collective creation Mon corps est une mémoire, led with dancer Tchina Ndjidda, takes over Le Gymnase.
Then on Saturday June 20, Roubaix's Grand'Place offers a finale in the form of a blaze: Gradur, child of the city turned heavyweight of French rap, Jungeli, phenomenon of the new generation, and Eesah Yasuke to close the loop. Free concert, doors at 7pm. Be in front of the stage early, very early.
Fashion, street art, parkour, workshops: the program goes far beyond music and dance, with over 20 events across 10 venues. Most are free. That's also the URBX statement.
Practical information
Opening night on June 11 at La Condition Publique (14 place du Général Faidherbe, Roubaix), doors at 6pm. Most events are free, some require reservation: plan ahead, capacities are limited. Full program on urbxfestival.com and real-time updates on Instagram @urbx_festival.
ROUBAIX STRIKES THE MATCH
From June 11 to 21, the spark will run from La Condition Publique to the Grand'Place without ever dying out. And the embers will still be hot when the next chapter is already being written.
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