As drums echo across the water and dragon boats surge forward in unison, Guangdong enters one of its liveliest seasons of the year.
The Dragon Boat Festival is among the province's most deeply rooted traditional celebrations, with dragon boat racing remaining its most iconic cultural symbol. From rivers and lakes to village waterways and urban centers, communities across Guangdong are preparing for a spectacular season of races, parades, and folk festivities. Here is where you can experience the excitement firsthand.
Guangzhou
2026 Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament (2026年广州国际龙舟邀请赛)
The tournament will bring together more than 3,800 athletes in 105 teams from 20 countries and regions. In addition to the 22-person, 600-meter sprint races, visitors will also be able to watch traditional dragon boat demonstrations and colorful dragon boat parades along the Pearl River.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Time: June 20. Preliminary and semifinal races: 9:00–12:00. Opening ceremony, finals, and awards: 14:00–16:00
Location: Waters between Sun Yat-sen University North Gate Square and Guangzhou Bridge (中山大学北门广场至广州大桥之间河段)
More events in Guangzhou:
1. Dragon Boat Festival activities in Haizhu Wetland
Time: June 18–21
Location: Phase II area, Haizhu Wetland, Haizhu District (海珠湿地二期)
Highlights: Traditional dragon boat visiting, international teams, family races, a dragon boat feast, and a cultural bazaar
2. Yuexiu dragon boat event
Time: June 19
Location: Ersha Creek and Yangji Creek (二沙涌、杨箕涌)
Highlights: Over 100 dragon boats and a traditional water parade
3. Renhe Town dragon boat event
Time: June 21
Location: Liuxi River, Renhe Town, Baiyun District (白云区人和镇流溪河)
4. 2026 Tianhe Dragon Boat Invitational
Time: June 27
Location: Tianhe Wetland Park and Xintang Reservoir (天河湿地公园、新塘水库)
Highlights: Dragon boat folk customs, intangible cultural heritage workshops, and local food
5. Dragon boat race in Baiyun District
Time: July 4
Location: East Lake, Baiyun Lake Park (白云湖公园东湖)
Highlights: Dragon boat feast, a creative food market, and family water sports
6. 2026 Guangzhou Dragon Boat Super League
Time: July–November
Location: Multiple venues across Guangzhou
Highlights: Multi-stop competitions and cultural heritage experiences
Shenzhen
2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen Nan'ao) Maritime Dragon Boat Carnival (2026粤港澳大湾区(深圳南澳)海上龙舟嘉年华)
The only sea-based dragon boat race in Shenzhen returns to Moon Bay on the Dapeng Peninsula. Teams from across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, along with international competitors, will race in the open waters. This creates a unique coastal version of the traditional sport. In addition, visitors can enjoy fishing-community wedding reenactments, Qilin dance performances, straw dragon parades, dragon boat heritage markets, and technology showcases.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Time: 8:00–10:20, June 19
Location: Moon Bay, Nan'ao Sub-district, Dapeng New District (大鹏南澳月亮湾海域)
More events in Shenzhen:
1. 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Dragon Boat Invitational
Time: 7:30, June 19
Location: Yangjihui section of Xinzhou River, Futian District (福田区新洲河阳基汇段)
Highlights: Robotics shows, an AI carnival, and waterfront cultural events
2. 2026 Dashahe International Dragon Boat Invitational
Time: 8:00, June 19
Location: Dasha River Ecological Corridor, Nanshan District (南山区大沙河生态长廊)
3. 2026 Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone Beautiful Village Dragon Boat Super Invitational
Time: 9:00, June 20–21
Location: Chihe Square, Chishi Sub-district, Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone (深汕特别合作区赤石街道赤河广场)
Highlights: Natural river course and village scenery
Foshan
2026 China (Foshan) Diejiao Dragon Boat Drifting Race (2026中国(佛山)叠滘龙船漂移大赛)
Few dragon boat races are as thrilling as Foshan's famous Diejiao dragon boat drifting race. Often dubbed the "Waterborne F1," the event challenges crews to steer 25-meter-long boats through a narrow waterway filled with sharp turns. Precision, speed, and teamwork are tested to their limits as the boats skim past corners just meters away from cheering spectators. An international elite challenge is also scheduled to take place on June 27 this year.
(Photo: Nanfang Daily)
(Photo: Foshan Media Center)
Dongsheng tournament (S-shaped track)
Time: 14:00–17:00, June 19
Location: Dongsheng Village, Diebei Community, Guicheng Sub-district, Nanhai District (南海区桂城街道叠北社区东胜村)
Shengtang tournament (L-shaped track)
Time: 13:30–17:00, June 20
Location: Shengtang Village, Dienan Community, Guicheng Sub-district, Nanhai District (南海区桂城街道叠南社区圣堂村)
Tantou tournament (C-shaped track)
Time: 13:30–17:00, June 21
Location: Tantou Village, Diebei Community, Guicheng Sub-district, Nanhai District (南海区桂城街道叠北社区潭头村)
Chaji tournament (J-shaped track)
Time: 13:30–17:00, June 22
Location: Chaji Village, Diebei Community, Guicheng Sub-district, Nanhai District (南海区桂城街道叠北社区茶基村)
More events in Foshan:
1. Xiqiao "Half-Mountain Dragon Boat" Event
Time: June 19–21
Location: Tianhu Park, Xiqiao Mountain Scenic Area, Nanhai District (西樵山风景名胜区天湖公园)
Highlights: Exciting races, lion dances, dragon dances, and paddleboarding experiences
2. 2026 Foshan Dragon Boat Super League and Yanbu Dragon Boat Event
Time: June 20
Location: River surface opposite Guanlong Tower, Yanbu Sub-district, Dali Town (大沥镇盐步观龙楼对出江面)
Highlights: Traditional dragon boat racing and century-old folk rituals
3. Xijiang Dragon Boat Parade
Time: June 20
Location: Xijiang River section and Yuweilong Square of Sucun Village, Gaoming District (高明区苏村村西江河段、鱼尾龙广场)
Highlights: Dragon boat parade, lion dances, and local food
Dongguan
Shatian Dragon Boat Championship (沙田镇龙舟锦标赛活动)
More than 40 teams will compete on Danshui Lake, involving village crews and water management teams from across Guangdong. The event showcases both local dragon boat traditions and modern competitive racing.
(Photo: Dongguan Fabu)
Time: June 26
Location: Danshui Lake, Shatian Town (东莞沙田镇淡水湖)
More events in Dongguan:
1. Wangniudun "Rural Revitalization Cup" Dragon Boat Championship
Time: June 19
Location: Liaoxia River, Wangniudun Town (望牛墩镇寮厦河)
Highlights: Traditional races, folk markets, dragon boat culture exhibitions, and handicraft workshops
2. Gaobu Dragon Boat Championship
Time: June 29
Location: Dongjiang River section near Gaobu Jiangbin Square, Gaobu Town (高埗镇东江南支流高埗江滨广场河段)
Zhongshan
2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Zhongshan) Dragon Boat Invitational (2026年粤港澳大湾区（中山）龙舟邀请赛)
More than 2,500 athletes are expected to take part in this year's event, including 13 traditional long dragon boats. Visitors will be able to witness thrilling racing maneuvers and high-speed standard dragon boat competitions, with university teams from across China participating.
(Photo: Zhongshan Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports Bureau)
Time: June 19–21
Location: Dragon Boat Culture Park and Xingzhong Square, Shiqi Sub-district (中山市石岐街道龙舟文化公园、兴中广场等)
More events in Zhongshan:
2026 Guzhen Thirteen-Oar Dragon Boat Race
Time: June 19
Location: Central River, Guzhen Town (古镇中心大河)
Highlights: Century-old tradition and "water marathon"
More dragon boat events across Guangdong
1. Yangjiang (Jiangcheng) Upstream Dragon Boat Race
Time: June 15, 17, and 19
Location: Xilai River, Jiangcheng District, Yangjiang (阳江江城区西濑河道)
2. 2026 Heyuan Dragon Boat Invitational
Time: July 17–19
Location: Dongjiang waters near Cultural Square, Laolong Town, Longchuan County, Heyuan (河源龙川县老隆镇文化广场旁东江水域)
3. 2026 Shanwei Shicheng District Dragon Boat Competition
Time: June 19
Location: Pinqing Lake, Shicheng District, Shanwei (汕尾市城区品清湖)
4. 2026 Anpu "Xinghai Cup" Dragon Boat Race
Time: June 19
Location: Jiujiangzhou River section, Anpu Town, Lianjiang, Zhanjiang (湛江廉江市安铺镇九江洲河段)
5. 2026 Zhaoqing Xinghu Dragon Boat Race
Time: June 19
Location: Central Lake, Xinghu Scenic Area, Zhaoqing (肇庆星湖中心湖)
6. Dragon boat demonstration event
Time: June 20
Location: Xia'nan Wharf and nearby Dongjiang River section, Yuanzhou Town, Boluo County, Huizhou (惠州博罗县园洲镇下南码头及附近东江河段)
7. 2026 Xingning Dragon Boat Invitational
Time: July 4–5
Location: Ningjiang River section at Ningjiang Park, Xingning, Meizhou (梅州兴宁市宁江河宁江公园流域)
8. Dragon Boat Competition of the 17th Guangdong Provincial Games
Time: July 5–7
Location: Jinjiang River, Hanzhang Bridge section, Xinyi, Maoming (茂名信宜市锦江河含章桥段)
Related news: Your guide to 2026 Dragon Boat Festival events in Jiangmen
Author | Huang Xinying
Poster | Lai Meiya
