Concept

Graffiti has always drawn attention — through its scale, color, and detail. But the process often takes hours, making it slow and less engaging for viewers.

At the same time, bombing exists — fast graffiti focused not on perfection but on presence: “I was here.” Tags, throw-ups, simple fonts, or characters.

People love to watch graffiti being created, and writers love to compete — to do it better, faster, and bolder. Battles existed before, but they lacked a unified system — every city and country did it differently.

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System Goals

• Make the process engaging for the audience;
• Make it exciting for artists to compete and win;
• Keep it dynamic, understandable, and true to the street spirit.

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Format

16 artists participate. A knockout bracket decides the winner. Each round brings a new challenge and limited time — simulating real street conditions.

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Rounds

Top 16

• Time: 30 seconds
• Task: random word (tag)
• Goal: show style, speed, confidence

Top 8

• Time: 1 minute
• Task: random word, throw-up or simple letter form
• Color: one

Top 4

• Time: 1 minute 30 seconds
• Colors: two
• Task: random word, more complex form
• Judged by dynamics, balance, and cleanliness

Final

• Time: 3 minutes
• Colors: up to four
• Writers can switch names
• Creativity, confidence, and skill decide the outcome

(An optional 3rd place battle can be added.)

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Judging

The panel consists of 3–5 respected graffiti artists. The main criteria are independence and a wide perspective on style. Judges evaluate:

• Letter structure and style;
• Dynamics and confidence;
• Presentation and originality.

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Organization

If there’s no wall, use portable structures or replaceable panels. After each battle, helpers quickly cover previous works — not perfectly, just enough for the next round.

The format stays fast, raw, and alive.

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Why It Works

Over five years of organizing graffiti battles, I’ve seen this format attract people to the culture. Viewers stay till the end — and more gather with every round.

It’s not just competition — it’s live creation, happening right before your eyes. The format makes graffiti more accessible to the public and motivates artists themselves.

Many participants — or even viewers — start improving their style or pick up a can for the first time.

This system not only reveals the best but also nurtures a new generation of graffiti writers while keeping the street spirit alive.