San Antonio’s premiere event to kick off Fiesta has arrived. The Red Bull Batalla is the biggest Spanish-language freestyle rap battle series that takes place all in one night on Thursday, April 20.

Eight of the best Spanish-language lyricists from the United States and Mexico – with championship titles to match – will battle it out on-stage in a bracket-style tournament from 9 pm to 2 am at Paper Tiger. In collaboration with the Fiesta San Antonio Commission, Red Bull has created their first-ever Red Bull Fiesta medal that will be available for the first 500 patrons at the event.

Initial confirmed participants in the championship bracket include:

• Cuban, the 3rd place finalist in the 2022 Red Bull Batalla USA (from Texas)
• Jordi, the 2022 USA Texas Regional Cup Winner (from Texas)
• Oner, the 2022 National Champion of Red Bull Batalla USA (from Florida)
• Reverse, the 2021 National Champion of Red Bull Batalla USA (from Florida)
• Yartzi, the two-time National Champion of Red Bull Batalla (from Puerto Rico)
• Lobo, the 2019 Red Bull Batalla de Los Gallos Mexico National Champion (from Mexico)
• Yoiker, the 2022 National Champion of Red Bull Batalla México (from Mexico)

“Fluffy the Host” aka Omar Cadena and DJ Lobo will guide the night’s events with additional talent from opener DJ Rudy. Texas Latin DJ collective Peligrosa will conclude the evening with a “special collaborative performance” according to a press release.

While the competition takes place, guests can enjoy curated Red Bull cocktails, as well as free haircuts and beard trims during a first-come, first-serve pop-up barbershop experience with several local barbers. A few featured barbers include Faded Culture’s Sergio Barron and Adrian Barron, Oscar Cantu aka “Kurly Kutz” of Koo Kutz Barber Shop, and others.

More information and RSVP for the Red Bull Batalla Exhibición can be found on Eventbrite.