Choreographers Behind BTS and BLACKPINK to Face Off as IDL Lands in Seoul

The explosive energy of the world’s top dancers—long visible mostly on screens—will arrive in Seoul. The International Dance League (IDL), the first global professional dance league that pits top pro dance crews from around the world against one another, has confirmed its Seoul debut. The "Seoul Series," held Aug. 1 at Kyung Hee University Peace Hall, is shaping up to be one of this summer’s biggest pop-culture events.

The Seoul Series is the fourth event in IDL’s 2026 debut season. The three earlier stops in New York, Vancouver and Sydney sold out as soon as tickets went on sale. The league has already drawn more than 500 million cumulative views worldwide.

The lineup is stacked. Led by South Korea’s leading mega crew 1MILLION, six top teams representing six countries will compete for a single championship trophy: Canada’s Brotherhood; Southeast Asia favorite Jam Republic; Norway’s inventive performers Quick Style; New Zealand powerhouse Royal Family; and the United States’ GRV.

Expectations are especially high because leading members of each crew are the choreographers behind global K-pop acts. Lia Kim of 1MILLION, who has choreographed hits for BLACKPINK and TWICE, and Brotherhood’s Scott Posis, who oversaw performances for BTS and Stray Kids, will be at the forefront. They will be joined by Jam Republic’s Julian DiGuzman, known for NCT 127’s "Yeong-ung (英雄; Kick It)," and Quick Style’s Nasir Sirikan, who helped create BTS’s "Blood Sweat & Tears" and "Boy With Luv." Together, they anchor a lineup at the top of dance performance artistry.

Connor Lim, IDL’s co-founder and CEO, said, "South Korea is currently the symbolic country producing the most influential choreographers and trends in the global dance world. With every team performing at its peak, Seoul will stage the fiercest and most thrilling battle on the road to the IDL 2026 Championship."

IDL has been praised for elevating dance from a simple competition into both a professional sport and a form of high culture. Tickets to experience the live-scale thrill—once confined to YouTube, TikTok and other digital screens—at the IDL "Seoul Series" are now on sale through Ticketlink. For detailed schedules, timetables and additional information, visit the official IDL website (www.IDL.pro).