ICF Dragon Boat Committee activities Q2 2026

Dragon Boat Festivities

The second quarter of year 2026 an important and busy period for most Dragon Boat teams. All the Dragon Boat paddlers resume their intensive training as early as March preparing themselves for competitions organised during the Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng Festival) which is the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. In addition to those organised on the “Festival Day” had been organised in many countries, one could see races held almost all Sundays starting from April until June 2026. In some Asian countries, Dragon Boat teams arriving the competition venue by their own fishing boats. 

Dragon Boat Competitions in Italy 

Two international Dragon Boat competitions were organized in Italy, namely the Dragon Boat Woman Festival on 14-15 March 2026 at Toscolano Maderno, Brescia, Italy and, the International Dragon Boat and Paradragon on 22-23 May 2026 at Cavallino-Treporti, Venice, Italy.  

World Cup Preparations 

The Bulletin #1 of the ICF Dragon Boat World Cup, Yuanling, China on 25-27 September was circulated and posted on the ICF Website in March 2026. The HOC will provide full board and local transportation for two teams of 20 people each per country from 23 to 28 September 2026. The closing date for preliminary entry is 20th July 2026.  

World Championships Anticipation 

The ICF Dragon Boat World Championships, staged from 30 September to 3 October, will be part of the Hangzhou Super Cup to be held at the Hangzhou Fuyang Water Sports Centre which was the venue of 2023 19th Asian Games. The Bulletin #1 has been posted on the ICF Website in April 2026. National Federations may submit their entries via the ICF’s SDP system. For national teams joining the World Championships after competing in the World Cup in Yuanling, the HOC will assist for train tickets arrangements for high-speed trains to Hangzhou for the World Championships. 

World Master Games 2027 

The Dragon Boat events have been scheduled on 27-29 May 2027. A test event for Dragon Boat will be organized in Kyotango, Japan on 6-8 August 2026 together with the Asian Dragon Boat Championships. An ITO Seminar and examination will be organised on 4-8 August 2026 during the test event.

Dr. Wai-Hung Luk, Chair of the ICF Dragon Boat Committee