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Join the Dragon Boat Festival to see if you can be crowned the 2026 champion.
Date of Event: 12 Sep 2026
Get set to make waves at the Dragon Boat Festival - where teamwork, community spirit, and a little bit of dragon-sized determination come together for an unforgettable day on the water.
This isn't just a race - it's a spectacle. Vibrant dragon boats, electric atmosphere, friendly rivalry, fancy dress and post-paddle celebrations.
For the spectators, they'll be food and drinks stalls as well as entertainment for kids.
So gather your crew of legends, choose your team name, sign up and prepare to battle.
NEW for 2026 - you can now enter as a half team (8 people) or as an individual to join a mixed team.
What to wear
We suggest that the crew wear light clothing, which will dry quickly. Bring a towel and warm clothes to cover up as you will get wet! No heavy jeans, flip-flops or boots. Trainers are recommended. Many teams like to wear fancy dress.
Buoyancy aids are required and will be provided – please make sure they fit over your fancy dress outfit.
Staying Safe
We hope this event will be great fun but we need to remember health and safety requirements.
A professional dragon boat company manages the event. They will provide you with buoyancy aids, a professional helm, and a full safety briefing. Please listen to and follow their instructions at all times.
In the interests of safety, a minimum age of 12 years and the ability to swim 50 metres is set for our competitors.
Whilst the organisers will not unreasonably restrict crew members from drinking in moderation, Dragon Boat Events Limited reserves the right to disqualify a single crew member or even a whole team from the competition if, in the opinion of the chief marshal, they are unfit to paddle. In such cases, there will be absolutely no refund of entry fees.
We ask teams not to bring alcohol or bottles into the arena. You may pre-order team drinks with food as part of registration. These will be delivered to the team in the morning.
Please note that BBQs are not permitted inside the arena by order of the Harbour Master. Refreshments may be bought from the various food and drink stalls which will be there on the day.
What to expect on the day
Dragon Boat racing isn’t just a sport – it’s a carnival dating back to the 5th or 6th century, draped in history, tradition, and competition.
Participating crews will enjoy a full day’s entertainment, including:
The first race is on at around 10:00, with the grand final scheduled for 16:00.
At the end of the day, prizes will be awarded to the fastest team and two runners up as well as spot prizes selected by the sponsor.
If you're signing up as a full team or half team you will be based on the balcony area of Albert Pier and have been allocated a space of 3 x 3 metres with a table and 5 chairs. You are welcome to bring along a gazebo fitting the space if you wish.
Individuals will have a communal gazebo to use as base.
The teams who have raised the most money for Jersey Hospice Care will be given a much sought after VIP location in the arena with perfect views of the races.
Fundraising
All full teams taking part pledge to raise a minimum of £550 for Jersey Hospice Care.
All half teams pledge to raise a minimum of £275 in sponsorship. Individuals have no minimum fundraising pledge but are encouraged to raise as much money as possible.
We are able to provide you with support and advice in the months leading up to the event and encourage you to set up your own fundraising page after registering on JerseyGiving. You can personalise the page with your own team photo and text.
How many people are required for a team
You need 17 people for a full team. 16 paddlers in pairs facing towards the bow of the boat and one drummer facing towards the paddlers. We also recommend you have subs/extras in case people get tired or need to leave.
You can also enter a half team of 8 people and will be paired together with another half team.
Individuals can enter and will be grouped together with other individuals or a half team.
How much is it to register
The registration fees are:
Corporate Full Team £610
Community Full Team £400
Half Team £305
Individuals £80
If you're signing up before Friday 27 March 2026, full teams and half teams will get our early bird rates:
Corporate Full Team £550
Community Full Team £360
Half Team £275