The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival is back for 2026, and this year’s edition is extra special — it marks the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races. Organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and co-organized by the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association, the festival runs from June 19 to July 1, 2026, making it the longest edition ever held along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.
This year’s festival is the grand opening event of the “Hong Kong Summer Spectacular” campaign. With the race period extended to 13 days, the festival spans both the Dragon Boat Festival public holiday and the Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day, giving locals and tourists plenty of opportunities to join the festivities.
220 Teams, 4,500 Athletes from 16 Countries
The core races take place on June 27–28, featuring over 220 teams and more than 4,500 athletes from 16 countries and regions including mainland China, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia — with Indonesia competing for the first time. Teams will battle across 21 race categories, making this the largest dragon boat event in Hong Kong’s history.
50th Anniversary Special Races
To celebrate the golden anniversary, two special races have been created. The “50th Anniversary Fisherman’s Cup” invites six traditional fishing communities from Aberdeen, Chai Wan, and other areas to race using authentic wooden dragon boats, recreating the look and feel of Hong Kong’s fishing village heritage. The “50th Anniversary Championship” gathers winners of nine major race categories to compete for the prestigious title of “Ultimate Dragon King.”
Cultural Workshops, VR, and Entertainment
Beyond the races, the festival introduces Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) workshops where visitors can try net weaving, sugar blowing, and making traditional rice dumplings. A virtual reality (VR) zone lets participants experience dragon boat racing from a first-person perspective. Along the Avenue of Stars, a food street and beer garden feature major photo spots including a 22-meter traditional wooden dragon boat and a Minions co-branded dragon boat installation.
Summer Deals Across Hong Kong
As part of the Summer Spectacular, the Tourism Board has teamed up with merchants offering hundreds of thousands of consumer vouchers covering attractions, dining, shopping, and transport. From July 1 to August 31, visitors using AlipayHK, Alipay, or Alipay+ can scan QR codes at nearly 100 participating malls to win up to HK$500 in shopping credits.
Custom Apparel for Your Dragon Boat Team
Dragon boat festivals are all about team spirit, and nothing brings a crew together like matching custom uniforms. Whether you’re forming a corporate team, a community club, or preparing for next year’s festival, having custom-printed tech-tee shirts, tank tops, or performance jerseys helps your squad stand out on race day. Custom dragon boat apparel also makes for great team souvenirs and merchandise.
Plan your visit to Victoria Harbour between June 19 and July 1 and experience Hong Kong’s most iconic summer tradition in its biggest, boldest edition yet.