World's No. 1 Salsa Team Headlines ALIF-SL's 4th Edition in Colombo

ALIF-SL 2026 to bring 30+ international artists to Colombo, headlined by world No. 1 salsa team Tropical Gem from Italy

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - ALIF-SL, Sri Lanka's first-ever international Afro-Latin dance festival, returns for its 4th edition from 25 to 27 September 2026 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The festival will bring together over 30 international and national artists and 175–200 participants from more than 20 countries, reaffirming its place as the region's leading platform for Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba.

This year's edition is headlined by Tropical Gem, the world's No. 1 salsa team, travelling from Italy to perform and teach alongside a stellar international line-up. Attendees can also look forward to the ALIF Cup Sri Lanka Open, a keenly contested competition judged by an international panel, giving local dancers a rare opportunity to compete and connect with world-class talent.

Founded in 2023 by JD Ruban, an award-winning international Salsa and Bachata artist and founder of Claves by RubanSri Lanka's first and only internationally award-winning Salsa dance school ALIF-SL has grown steadily each year, putting Sri Lanka firmly on the global Afro-Latin dance map.

“Every year, ALIF connects Sri Lanka to the world. With this year’s artist line-up and the ALIF Cup competition, we’re not just hosting a festival, we’re putting Sri Lanka on the map as a top destination for dance,” said JD Ruban, Founder and Director of ALIF-SL

Beyond the dance floor, ALIF-SL continues to support Sri Lanka's tourism sector, drawing dancers, judges and enthusiasts from across the globe to Colombo and positioning the capital as an emerging regional hub for social dance. Organizers plan to grow the festival into a larger regional tourism draw, introduce new competition categories, and bring in even bigger headline acts in future editions.