Cancún to Host More Than 500 Dancers From 21 Countries for Pump It Up Championship

Cancún, Quintana Roo — More than 500 competitors from 21 countries will gather in Cancún for the Pump It Up Big One México 2026 international championship, a tournament that blends video gaming with music, coordination and physical endurance.

The event runs Nov. 6-8 at the Kuchil Baxal gymnasium and marks the eighth edition of B1G One, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary and will be held in Mexico for the first time.

Quintana Roo’s Tourism Department said the gathering is considered one of the most important international tournaments in the discipline. It is open to the general public, with activities scheduled from 3 p.m.

What the competition involves

Pump It Up is a dance video game that challenges players to follow sequences of arrows on a five-panel platform, demanding coordination, speed, precision and stamina.

The tournament will feature several disciplines, including Speed, Freestyle, Old School, ShortCut, CO-OP and Intermediate, along with separate men’s and women’s categories. Competition rounds and finals will take place at the Kuchil Baxal gymnasium, and organizers said admission for spectators will be free.

Schedule of events

The program opens Thursday, Nov. 5, with Community Day, a warm-up session ahead of the competition:

• 4 p.m. — Photo session at the Kuchil Baxal gymnasium
• 6:30 p.m. — Welcome dinner at Plaza Las Américas
• 10:30 p.m. — Draw to determine the starting order

Friday, Nov. 6, is the first day of competition. Doors open at 10 a.m., with the opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Events that day include the men’s and women’s ShortCut categories and the opening rounds of men’s Speed Pro.

Competition continues Saturday, Nov. 7, with women’s Speed Pro, men’s and women’s Old School, Freestyle Old School, CO-OP, Intermediate and Freestyle. The Pump It Up R!SE category will hold its rounds on the Nexus Games stage from noon.

Sunday, Nov. 8, brings finals in Intermediate, Pump It Up R!SE, CO-OP and Freestyle, along with the semifinals and finals of men’s and women’s Speed Pro. The awards presentation and closing ceremony are set for 6:45 p.m., with an after-party at Le Parisien starting at 9:30 p.m.

International field

The championship expects to draw more than 500 participants from 21 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, bringing together distinct international communities built around the dance game. Mexico, Chile and South Korea stand out for their competitive level, and their representatives will be aiming for the top of the standings.

The event also includes categories designed to accommodate players of different skill levels and styles, as well as activities that let members of the community meet and socialize.

Organizers said B1G One México 2026 is intended to bring together not only professional competitors but also the fans who have built a community around Pump It Up over two decades.