Royal Rumble, Solo Battle Competition
Sixteen fighters. One floor. One crown.
The first solo battle competition of Bachata Geneva Festival. One on one, improvised, knocked out battle after battle until one dancer is left standing.
- 16
- fighters
- 15
- battles
- 6
- judges
- €1,000
- for the champion
Entry €25 · registrations close 28 September
The panelTonio, Melvin, Claudio, Klau, Adriana and LizaNo partner. No choreography. No second take.
Bachata is a partner dance, and for four days the festival celebrates that. The Royal Rumble is the one moment where the partner steps away and the dancer stands alone: one opponent, a random song, and a floor that belongs to whoever takes it.
It is a solo battle. Two fighters take turns improvising to a random song, each answering what the other just did. When the music stops, the judges point at the winner. Lose once and you are out. Win four battles and you are the champion, with the trophy and €1,000 to prove it.
The format was born on the French battle scene with Solo Bachata Kingdom, and comes to Geneva as the surprise of Saturday night.
Sixteen in, one out
A straight knockout bracket. Fifteen battles in one night, from the round of 16 to the final, plus a battle for third place. Every battle runs over 2 songs, and every loss is the end of the road.
Swipe sideways to see the whole bracket.
The sixteen names appear here on 4 October. The draw is read live by the MC on the night.
1 champion
€1,000 and the trophy
Plus a battle for third place between the two semi-final losers. Every battle, the final included, is 2 songs.
One battle, five rules
Everything a fighter needs to know before stepping on the floor.
- 1Random songsPicked by the DJ, unknown to everyone until they play.
- 22 songs per battleFighter 1 opens the first song. They swap on the second.
- 3Singing or instrumental?Each round the panel decides which comes first. Nobody knows in advance.
- 4Improvised, alwaysNo choreography, no props, no partner.
- 5The judges pointAll at once, the moment the music stops. Majority wins, no scores. The final is decided together.
A battle, song by song
1 opens, 2 answers
they swap: 2 opens
Both fighters dance the same songs and the same parts, about 45 seconds a passage and 3:00 of dancing in all, so nobody gets the better half.
What the judges look at
Five things, weighed in the time it takes to raise a hand.
- 01
Bachata
Fusion is welcome, but it cannot take over: at least 70% has to be bachata.
- 02
Technique of execution
Clean footwork, control and body movement, at any speed.
- 03
Musicality
Timing, accents and breaks: the song has to be visible in your body.
- 04
Battle spirit
You are answering someone. Reaction, attitude, presence, respect.
- 05
Taking risk
Safe does not win battles. Surprise the room, and land it.
6 judges. No scores. One finger each.
Artists of the festival, from the battle scene and the social floor. They vote in the open, at the same time, the second the music stops. In the round of 16 and the quarter-finals, two battles run side by side and the panel splits, 3 judges on each. From the semi-finals on, 5 judge each battle and one sits out, a different judge every time, so the panel is always an odd number and nobody judges a fighter they are close to. The final is different: all 6 confer, give their word to the MC, and the head judge raises the winner's hand.
What the champion takes home
€1,000
In cash, handed to the champion on stage the same night.
The trophy and the title
The Royal Rumble trophy and the title of Royal Rumble champion of Bachata Geneva Festival 2026.
The whole festival watching
Fifteen battles on Saturday night, streamed live on this page, then published by the festival. Every fighter leaves with the footage of their battles.
Both finalists are already qualified. For the round of 16 of the Solo Bachata Kingdom Royal Rumble 1 vs 1, no cypher qualification required, and for next year's Royal Rumble at Bachata Geneva Festival.
Second and third place take the podium next to the champion.
From your phone to the floor
Ten days to register, one video to send, sixteen names on 4 October.
Register on Kadens
19 September - 28 September
Your name, country, Instagram and one video of you improvising alone, 30 to 60 seconds. No edits, no music video: the raw thing.
We pick 16 fighters
29 September - 3 October
The head judge and the organization watch every video and select the sixteen. We look for musicality, technique, personality and a mix of styles and countries.
Fighters announced
4 October
The sixteen are published on this page and on Instagram, with their flag and handle. The draw stays secret until the night.
Battle night
Saturday 10 October, 22:00 to 23:30
Sixteen fighters, fifteen battles, one champion. Palexpo, on Saturday night.
Why a video
This year, your video is the qualifier
This is the first edition, and the Royal Rumble has a fixed slot on Saturday night, 22:00 to 23:30. There is no time for an open qualifying round on the night, so this year the 16 fighters are chosen from the videos.
So send one. It takes a few minutes: thirty seconds on your phone, no editing, no choreography, just you and a bachata. You do not need to be a teacher or an artist of the festival. Entry is €25, the champion leaves with €1,000, and if you have ever wondered how you would do in a battle, this is how you find out.
- Entry fee: €25 per fighter
- 30 to 60 seconds of you improvising alone, filmed on a phone
- Everyone who applies gets an answer, in or out
- If you are selected, you also need a festival pass valid for Saturday night
Sixteen spots. One is yours to take.
Registering takes a few minutes on Kadens: who you are, where you are from, and one video of you improvising alone. Registrations close on 28 September.
Frequently asked questions
Two dancers, no partner, random songs. They take turns on the floor and improvise, each trying to top what the other just did. When the last passage lands the judges point at the winner. That is the whole game.
The Royal Rumble is a knockout bracket of sixteen: lose once and you are out, win four battles and you are the champion.