Ireland's preimer international baton twirling competition

Join clubs and athletes from Ireland and abroad for a full day of baton twirling competition at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Dublin.

The Hibernian Cup brings together Freestyle, Rhythmic, Technical, and Team events in a one day format designed to support athlete development, international preparation, and broad participation. Open to all twirlers from Ireland and further afield regardless of membership (some events are IBTF membership only for governance reasons)

Quick event information

  • Venue: Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, Sport Ireland Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, D15 EPN4

  • Format: One day international baton twirling competition

  • Ticket price: €10 per day

  • Ticket sales close: 5.00 pm on 3 July

  • Tickets are online only and will not be available at the door

  • Wristbands will be issued to each club director at the venue entrance

Why attend the Hibernian Cup

The Hibernian Cup is designed to give athletes a strong and enjoyable competition experience in a professional setting.

It offers:

  • Championship opportunities for athletes preparing for higher level IBTF competition

  • Development opportunities across A, B, and C pathways

  • A practical event structure for clubs travelling from Ireland, the UK, and Europe

  • A high quality venue with good transport links and nearby accommodation options

Events

Technical Events

·         Run in multiple lanes at the same time

·         There are usually 1 to 3 judges, and sometimes a separate penalty judge, athletes ranked by place points with final score only used for tie breaking – the exception is if more than 1 judge places an athlete in 1st place, the automatically are placed In first.

·         Athletes perform to the official IBTF Solo music

·         No salute is required

·         Content restrictions apply, so athletes and coaches should check Section 7 of the rulebook

Solo

Solo is a technical event that focuses on correct baton handling, body control, timing, and precision. It highlights the athlete’s ability to perform set technical content cleanly and confidently.

 

2 Baton

2 Baton is a technical event where the athlete performs with two batons at the same time. It tests coordination, control, spatial awareness, and the ability to manage both hands equally and effectively.

 

Artistic Twirl

Artistic Twirl combines baton technique with creativity, expression, and interpretation. The event gives athletes more freedom to show style, musical understanding, and performance quality.

 

Freestyle and Rhythmic Events

·         All use their own choice of music

·         Full floor used for each performance

·         Content restrictions apply for level C, B and A, and all levels of Rhythmic Twirl

·         Athletes must be members of the IBTF National Federation for their country to compete in Championship level in all events, and Freestyle solo in all levels.

 

Rhythmic Twirl

Rhythmic Twirl combines baton technique with movement and musical rhythm. It is designed to show how well an athlete can blend twirling skills with timing, flow, and body coordination. The routine should show a balance of baton technique and coordinated body movement  Judges consider timing, rhythm, flow, and execution. Along with general level based content restrictions, athletes are heavily penalised for acrobatic movements of any kind.

 

Freestyle Solo

Freestyle Solo is an individual event that allows athletes to show a broader range of baton skills, movement, creativity, and performance. It combines technical ability with choreographic design and presentation. The routine may include a variety of technical and artistic elements. The NJS system is used with a fiche submitted in advance for each athlete.

 

Freestyle Pair

Freestyle Pair is a partnered event where two athletes perform together. It focuses on teamwork, coordination, timing, and the ability to create a routine that is both technically strong and visually connected. Two athletes perform one shared routine to music The event should show synchronisation, teamwork, and clear partner interaction. Judges consider technical quality, unison, composition, and presentation. Division is based on the age of the oldest athlete

 

Freestyle Team

Freestyle Team is a group event (6-8 athletes) where athletes perform a choreographed routine together. It combines baton technique, teamwork, spacing, formation work, and overall visual impact. The routine should include coordinated group work, formation changes, and strong timing. Judges consider technique, unison, composition, spacing, and presentation. Team division is based on the average age of all athletes

 

DanceTwirl Team

DanceTwirl Team combines baton technique with dance-based movement and group choreography. The event places strong emphasis on musical interpretation, visual design, teamwork, and performance quality. The routine should blend baton work with dance movement and group design. Judges consider musical interpretation, movement quality, composition, teamwork, and overall effect. C Level Team division is based on the average age of all athletes, in B and A level Junior team, all athletes must be junior.

Divisions

Athletes are divided by age based on their age on 31 December 2026.

General division rules

·         No athlete under 8 years of age may compete in any event

·         No athlete under 12 years of age may compete in any Championship event

·         In Pairs, the division is based on the age of the oldest athlete

·         In Teams, the division is based on the average age of all athletes except in Level A Championship Team, all Junior athletes must be 12 to 17 years old, if any athlete in a Championship team is aged 18 or older, the whole team is classified as Senior

 

Age divisions for most events

·         Preteen / Juvenile: 8 to 11 years

·         Youth / Junior: 12 to 17 years

·         Senior / Adult: 18 years and over

 

Age divisions for Championship events

·         Junior: 12 to 17 years

·         Senior: 18 years and over

 

Levels

These levels reflect the athlete’s stage of development, technical difficulty, and performance standard. IBTF athletes must respect the advancement rule. Levels C, B and A come with content restrictions in all events.

·         Level C:  An introductory competitive level where athletes begin applying basic technical skills in competition. Also known as Beginner or Novice

·         Level B: A developing level where athletes show stronger control, consistency, and a wider range of skills. Also known as Intermediate

·         Level A:  An advanced level where athletes perform more demanding content with greater technique, structure, and presentation. Might be known as Advanced

•        Elite: The highest technical level of baton twirler capable of representing their country among the best in the world.  These are experience and high-performance athletes.

•        Championship The highest level of competition, with greater expectations, and internationally recognised event formats.

Venue

The Hibernian Cup will take place at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

The venue previously hosted the 2018 WBTF EuroTwirl and Dublin is scheduled to host the 2027 IBTF European Freestyle and Rhythmic Twirl Championship.

The arena is easily reached by road and public transport and is located close to the M50 and the N3.

Tickets

Spectator tickets are €10 per day.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance through the official ticket link.

Tickets are not available at the door.

Purchased tickets will be exchanged for wristbands, which will be given to each club director at the venue entrance.

Travel and accommodation

International entries are welcome.

Dublin Airport is the main international gateway for the event and is well connected to the UK and Europe.

For many clubs, same day travel may be possible depending on the final competition schedule and individual travel arrangements. Other clubs may prefer to stay either the night before or the night of the event.

Suggested nearby accommodation options include:

  • Crowne Plaza Dublin Blanchardstown

  • Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown

  • Travelodge Dublin Phoenix Park

  • Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley

For clubs and coaches

The Hibernian Cup is designed to balance quality competition with practical event delivery.

Championship entries are processed first. Remaining capacity is then allocated across the non Championship programme.

This supports both high performance preparation and meaningful access for developing athletes.

Stay updated

Full event information, final schedules, ticket links, and any additional venue guidance will be published by the organiser.

If you are planning to attend, compete, or travel with a club group, keep an eye on official updates and make arrangements early.

Call to action

Ready to join us in Dublin?

Plan your trip, book your tickets, and be part of the Hibernian Cup 2026

Rulebook can be downloaded now, tickets and entry form will be available in May.

Tickets
Rulebook
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