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A summer like no other: Dragon Boat BC announces major adjustments to the 2026 Race Calendar in anticipation of Vancouver hosting the world next June

VANCOUVER, BC (December 17, 2025) — Dragon Boat BC is unveiling a refreshed 2026 Race Calendar, with a new race next year in late August and thoughtfully revised dates that align with international events and local community celebrations.

The most notable adjustment confirms the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival will be cancelled due to the FIFA World Cup 26™, but will return in June 2027. The FreshCo Richmond Dragon Boat Festival will shift to September rather than its usual August date, to accommodate a new summer regatta on August 22 — a one-time festival supported by Concord Pacific and TD in False Creek. A formal announcement on the name of this new event will be made during Lunar New Year celebrations in February.

These updates reflect collaborative discussions with public and private partners to ensure the calendar highlights the best of B.C. communities, while welcoming participants from around the world. With these enhancements, Dragon Boat BC will maximize community benefits and create unforgettable experiences for athletes, spectators and visitors. These major changes were only made possible with the support of the Government of British Columbia, staff in event host cities, paddling community stakeholders, and private funding partners.

“In 2026, there is an unparalleled opportunity to welcome people from around the world to B.C., and we are pleased to support Dragon Boat BC and collaborate to ensure these important events can still happen,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Events like these exemplify the culture and spirit of British Columbia, and we are proud to support the organizers who make our communities vibrant and bring people together.”

The 2026 Race Calendar has now been updated at dragonboatbc.ca/race, and all races are open for registration at register.dragonboatbc.ca. New events are italicized, and temporarily changed events are bolded in the chart below. All events are expected to return to their normal dates in 2027. Additional races and events will be announced in due course. All events are free to attend, with many events also featuring live cultural programming or music, food trucks, local artisan craft markets, and spotlights on non-profits in each community.

About the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society

Community, culture, and competition, all in one boat. The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society (Dragon Boat BC) is the non-profit organizer of North America’s flagship dragon boat festival – the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival and runs Dragon Zone Paddling Club in Olympic Village – Canada’s largest paddling club. The Society also produces a series of races, cultural programming, and community initiatives centred around the traditional Chinese cultural sport of dragon boat around BC. Through its all access and youth programs, supported by the Milton K. Wong Legacy Project, the Society makes paddling experiences accessible regardless of any barriers to participation.

Contact Information
For all media inquiries, availabilities, and backgrounder requests, please contact:

Dragon Boat BC Info Desk
info@dragonboatbc.ca
604 688 2382 X 2

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