Hip Hop Is Program
Saturday 20 December 2025 to Sunday 10 May 2026
At the Groninger Museum, you can explore the boundless creativity of Hip Hop, a cultural movement that spans countless creative fields, from art, fashion, design and language to music, dance and graffiti. With works by makers from the Netherlands and abroad, including Martha Cooper, Arthur Jafa, Iris Kensmil, Mick La Rock, Dana Lixenberg, Rammellzee and many more.
Program
Special activities are taking place inside and outside the museum during Hip Hop Is. Compete in breakdancing battles, watch a documentary on Hip Hop, or take part in the young people’s studio programme in the museum’s Hip Hop caravan.
HIP HOP IS D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself)
In the last room of the exhibition in the museum's Coop Himmelb(l)au building, you step into the different elements of Hip Hop. Add your own ‘tag’ to the graffiti wall, attend the podcast recordings of Homebase, or practice different ‘break’ moves using video instructions from Groningen breakers!
Date: Ongoing
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
>> More info
Hip Hop Caravan
The Groninger Museum is going on tour with the Hip Hop Caravan, which has been transformed into a mini museum. Starting in January, the caravan will travel to schools and festivals in the province of Groningen, surprising children and young people with activities related to the Hip Hop Is exhibition.
Date: Ongoing
Location: Province of Groningen
>> More info
Duvel Album Release
On Friday, 15 May, Duvel will release his new album Rariteitenkabinet. Just like Duvel and his music, the release won’t take place at a standard location, but at the Groninger Museum.
Rariteitenkabinet marks a new chapter in Duvel’s body of work and features 15 new tracks, produced by RayTheBarbarian and Ballantyne Beats.
The album effortlessly shifts between classic hardcore Hip Hop and influences from other genres—like a carefully curated collection of curiosities. Part of the album can already be experienced within the Rariteitenkabinet installation, on view as part of the Hip Hop Is exhibition at the Groninger Museum, which is open during the evening program.
Date: Friday, 15 May 2026
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
>> More info
World Breaking Classic NL Qualifier
On Saturday, 16 May, the Dutch Qualifier for the World Breaking Classic (WBC) will take place at the Groninger Museum, in Coop Himmelb(l)au. The WBC is an international breakdancing event in which duos of breakdancers compete against each other. At the Groninger Museum, breakers can qualify for the World Final on 27 and 28 June 2026, in Eindhoven. The Groninger Museum, from the program surrounding the exhibition Hip Hop Is, serves as the unique setting for this leading international battle.
Sign up as a duo to compete for a spot in the World Final or come watch the spectacular battles. Be sure to also enjoy the exhibition Hip Hop Is.
Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
>> More info
Previous Events
ESNS 2026
During the upcoming edition of ESNS, there will once again be plenty to see and experience across the city. In addition to music and performances, the festival also offers an extensive visual arts program under the banner of ESNS Art. ESNS is celebrating its 40th anniversary with special art presentations in collaboration with Noorderlicht, Academie Minerva, and the Groninger Archives, among others. ESNS visitors receive a discount at the Groninger Museum with their wristband and code.
Date: 14 January to 17 January 2026
Location: city center Groningen
Book signing by Niels Shoe Meulman and Ferry van Zijderveld
The Groninger Museum is organizing a book signing in the museum's entrance hall with artists Niels ‘Shoe’ Meulman and Ferry van Zijderveld. Have your copy of Shoe's Black Book – Graffiti in the 1980s signed, in which Shoe documents his early years as a graffiti artist and collaborations with iconic artists. The book signing is free and no museum ticket is required.
Date: 16 January 2026
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
HIP HOP IS: KNOWLEDGE | PODCAST WITH STEVEN GILBERS & DASTAN ABDALI
On March 7, Frank Stevens, Steven Gilbers, and Dastan Abdali will dive into the world of the fifth element: Knowledge. They will discuss how Hip Hop and science come together at the university and beyond, as will be seen from 18-21 March during the Things Done Changed conference.
Date: 7 March 2026
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
REFRAME NIGHT: HIP HOP IS
On Friday, March 13, we celebrate the kick-off of REFRAME! REFRAME is the Groninger Museum's youth program. The REFRAME community and its events are organized by a group of six enthusiastic young people.
You're welcome from 8:00 PM, and we'll provide the first drink. The program starts at 8:30 PM and doors close promptly at 8:45 PM, so please arrive on time!
Date: 13 March 2026
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
European Hip Hop Studies Conference 9.0
The Groninger Museum is the location for the European Hip Hop Studies Conference 2026. More than 30 years ago, the field of Hip Hop studies emerged, with groundbreaking works such as Black Noise by Tricia Rose. These publications laid the foundation for discussions that continue to this day. During this conference, we will look at the current state of Hip Hop research, the role of Hip Hop as a culture and as an art form, and the future of the field. Expect debates and panels on European Hip Hop, as well as keynotes and conversations with creators and researchers. This edition will also feature special sessions on the history of Hip Hop in the Netherlands, with a special focus on Groningen.
Date: 18 March to 21 March 2026
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
Hip Hop Is Knowledge: Night at the Museum
An interactive evening program filled with music, dance, panel discussions, and art, dedicated to Hip Hop culture and knowledge. Listen to a breakdown of the art of rap, join an interactive conversation on the gendered power dynamics in the Hip Hop industry, get down to a classic Hip Hop block jam in the middle of the Hip Hop Is exhibition, and more.
Date: 20 March 2026
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
Freestyle Hip Hop Dance Jam by Outside the Block
The dance gatherings are initiated by Grace Hardt and Juersson Hermanus and usually take place in the Noorderplantsoen or around Groningen Station. Everyone is welcome, with Hip Hop as the connecting force.
As part of the exhibition Hip Hop Is, they are organizing their open dance jams at the Groninger Museum. These tie in with the portrait series Dance Without Walls (2025), in which photographer Marleen Annema captures the vibrant freestyle dance scene Outside the Block from Groningen.
Come by and be part of the dance jams.
Date: Saturday, 18 April
Location: Museumeiland 1, 9711 ME Groningen
