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2026 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races Marks Dragon Boat Championship’s 50th Anniversary with the City’s Largest Day‑and‑night Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Across 13 Days This June

HONG KONG, May 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — One of Hong Kong’s most iconic summer traditions is set to make waves once again as the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board, return to Victoria Harbour this June, celebrating a landmark 50th anniversary with a spectacular edition.

Running from 19 June to 1 July, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival will bring a festive programme to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, spanning 13 days through the Dragon Boat Festival and featuring traditional culture, interactive workshops and performances. Set against Hong Kong’s world-famous skyline, the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races will bring together teams from around the globe on 27-28 June, transforming the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront into a vibrant hub of culture, sport and entertainment.


From Local Ritual to World Stage: Hong Kong's Dragon Boat Legacy

The grand scale of the event belies its humble beginnings. What started five decades ago as a competitive extension of a local cultural ritual has evolved into a dynamic, citywide celebration that blends heritage with sports. Dragon boat racing in Hong Kong traces its roots to traditional rituals performed by fishing communities, where vessels were once used to dispel bad luck and pray for peace and safety. In 1976, the city hosted its first international race in Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter, welcoming just 10 teams and marking the birth of modern international dragon boat racing.

Fast forward to today, and the event has grown into a truly global phenomenon and a competitive sport in Asian Games. This year’s races will welcome over 220 elite teams from 16 countries and regions over the two-day race schedule on 27-28 June, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as the Events Capital of Asia.

Beyond the Finish Line: A Harbourfront Party for All

What sets the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races apart is the way the celebration brings together culture, sports and entertainment on water and land. In addition to the exhilarating racing action, the event extends into the 13-day Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival on Fridays to Wednesdays from 19 June to 1 July, with immersive experiences designed to appeal to visitors of all ages and interests.

From daytime discoveries to after-dark energy, the Avenue of Stars and Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui are set to come alive with an all-day, diverse activity line-up. The programme spans intangible cultural heritage workshops alongside contemporary highlights including VR dragon boat paddling game, live music and stage performances. The hands-on sessions in particular spotlight time-honoured crafts passed down for centuries while adding a modern harbourfront buzz to the carnival experience.

A dedicated food-and-beverage offering will showcase festive favourites alongside Hong Kong street-food classics at the Dragon Boat Food Lane, while the harbourfront Beer Garden will add to the celebratory atmosphere. Tourists can enjoy complimentary beer and iced rice dumplings while soaking up the festive summer breeze. Also, the display of a 22-meter dragon boat and themed photo spots will further transform the precinct into a colourful, festival-like playground.

Together, these elements reimagine the dragon boat tradition for a new generation, turning a sporting event into a multi-sensory cultural experience. The combination of thrilling racing and immersive programming reflects Hong Kong’s signature “east-meets-west” identity, where centuries-old traditions sit comfortably alongside modern city energy. 

Experience the Dragon Boat Festival Across Hong Kong

Beyond Victoria Harbour, the spirit of the Dragon Boat Festival can be felt across the city. In Tai O, the centuries-old Dragon Boat Water Parade continues a unique ritual tradition, where sacred sampans carrying deity statues are towed through the village waterways—a practice recognised as part of China’s national intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

Meanwhile, local dragon boat races will take place in neighbourhoods across Hong Kong, from the scenic seaside of Stanley and the bustling fishing village of Aberdeen to the verdant landscapes of Sai Kung and the serene Shing Mun River in Sha Tin. Each offers its own distinct character and community atmosphere, welcoming visitors from near and far to discover Hong Kong’s diverse charm.

For more information about the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, please visit the event website: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/events/dragon-boat-festival.html

Media can download photos at the following link:
https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=2415&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1

For media enquiries, please contact:

Mr Cameron Tong Tel: 2807 6367                      Email: [email protected]
Ms Elisa Luk Tel: 2807 6236                      Email: [email protected]
   

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f80fbd6f-450b-4c92-a09e-b3386b925629

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b19234da-b436-4624-9f15-ed4ce1dd8d41

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9713159)

HKTB Taps Hong Kong Sevens’ 50th Anniversary to Promote Hong Kong as the “Events Capital of Asia”

HONG KONG, April 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. By bundling a series of mega events under the promotional platform “Hong Kong Mega 8”, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is showcasing to global audiences Hong Kong’s diverse and vibrant appeal as the “Events Capital of Asia” to attract visitors to the city. As a long-time supporter of this world-class sporting event, HKTB is introducing China-made robots previously featured on CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala to perform and cheer at the opening ceremony, offering audiences worldwide a fresh experience that brings together sports, innovative technology and culture.

Dr Peter Lam, HKTB Chairman, said, “This year marks a significant milestone for the Hong Kong Sevens as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Over the past half-century, the Hong Kong Sevens has witnessed the development of rugby in Hong Kong, while also becoming a major annual international sporting event that draws worldwide attention, successfully attracting visitors from around the world to be part of it. With the strong support of China Media Group, HKTB has arranged for China-made robots previously featured in CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala to appear as special guest performers, adding a new highlight to the event. While enjoying world-class rugby, audiences can also experience the global-leading capabilities of China’s robotics, as well as Hong Kong's distinctive charm as the ‘Events Capital of Asia’, where sports, innovative technology and culture come together.”
        
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said: “I am very grateful to Hong Kong China Rugby and the Hong Kong Tourism Board for their efforts in adding so many exciting elements to this year’s 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong Sevens. The robots’ performance was truly fun and full of energy. I hope local and visiting fans will come together this weekend to join the Hong Kong Sevens party.”

Blending tradition with innovative elements, the opening performance of the 50th edition was packed with highlights. Following a dragon dance, 10 robots teamed up seamlessly with a cheerleading squad, kicking off the event with dynamic choreography and precise coordination, hyping up the crowd in the stadium.

Immediately following the innovative cheerleading performance, lasers danced across the Main Stadium pitch, displaying the participating nations over the years, the names of legendary Sevens players, and the effect of twin dragons soaring over Hong Kong, celebrating 50 years of golden development for the Hong Kong Sevens. The closing ceremony on Sunday will feature a spectacular pyrotechnic display launched from the stadium roof, bringing the three-day tournament to a dazzling finale.

Robots produced by Chinese Mainland company Unitree Robotics perform as special guests at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Sevens.

HKTB also brought the robots to the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui and the East Coast Boardwalk in North Point to film promotional footage showcasing Hong Kong.

For overseas promotion, HKTB partnered with the Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) to invite a number of international key opinion leaders (KOLs) to visit Hong Kong and experience the mega-event appeal of the Hong Kong Sevens. Among them were three athletes who appeared in Netflix Korea’s Physical: 100 – Noh Sung-yul, a South Korean fitness YouTuber with over 10 million followers; artist Justin John Harvey; and well-known actor Lee Jae-yoon. In addition to appearing at Kai Tak Sports Park and the Hong Kong Sevens Fan Village to experience the event’s vibrant atmosphere, the trio explored various Hong Kong landmarks and checked out a series of distinctive experiences combining fitness challenges with local food culture, filming promotional content for HKTB and expanding the international exposure of both the Hong Kong Sevens and Hong Kong tourism. At the same time, HKTB invited partners from the local travel trade, the MICE (meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions) and cruise sectors, and overseas travel agency representatives and media, to attend the event to witness this annual international sporting highlight and experience Hong Kong’s charm as the “Events Capital of Asia”.

Members of the media can download the photos and videos from the following link:
https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=2402&categoryTypeId=2　

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr Cameron Tong Tel: 2807 6367                Email: [email protected]
Mr Chokie Cheng Tel: 2807 6342                Email: [email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d0cc62f7-1664-44e2-9a1a-2cf813eb1ad3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83545924-55d4-4da7-b005-2105354cd985

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/585cd706-2a8e-4b1c-930f-007251131c0a


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9692113)