About

Local teams will take part in a 7-week training programme kicking off on Monday, 12 January 2026, culminating in two exciting race events where competition heats up on the water.

Harbour Fun Day

The first event is Harbour Fun Day, Saturday, 14 February 2026 – a light-hearted introduction to competitive dragon boat racing. This fun-filled day gives participants a chance to experience the thrill of racing and offers a sneak peek at what’s to come during the main Festival. A highlight of the day is the annual sweep oar competition, where teams battle it out for a chance to win a VIP Upgrade for their crew during the festival weekend. Just one catch – you’ll need to stick around for the after-party to be in the running!

Wellington Dragon Boat Festival

The main event is the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival, where adult teams will race their first heats on the afternoon of Friday, 27 February 2026. The remaining heats, finals, prize-giving and the legendary after-party will take place on Saturday, 28 February 2026.

Each team has the opportunity to race in three heats and one final over the weekend. While we encourage all teams to attend their first heat on Friday afternoon, teams may choose to race only two heats and one final on Saturday. Either way, a team’s best two heat times will determine their placement in the finals and which lane they will be assigned.

More than 100 teams from across NZ and overseas will compete, with divisions for bother corporate and club teams. Many will walk away with prizes – but only a few will claim the title of champion in their division.

 
Youth Competition

On Sunday 1 March, we wrap up the weekend with the Youth Competition, held in conjunction with the NZSS Dragon Boat Cup (aka Schools Nationals).

Not only do we draw in teams, we also welcome thousands of spectators to cheer on the competitors. If you’ve never watched dragon boating before, you’ll quickly discover that it’s one of the worlds best sports to watch. We’ll apologise in advance for the sore throat you’ll have the next day - yelling is inevitable.