Thousands of the nation’s best paddlers will converge on the Sunshine Coast this month to battle it out in a tightly contested six-day regatta.
Spirited and fast-paced, the 2026 Australian Dragon Boat Championships will take place at Lake Kawana, Bokarina from April 18–23. Between 2,500 and 3,000 athletes from 76 clubs will compete across an intense program of approximately 370 races.
It’s the first time since 2018 that the championships will be held in Queensland. Lake Kawana is prized as one of the country’s leading flatwater racing venues.
Competition will be fiercely contested across four key distances: the explosive 200m sprint, the 500m standard race and the gruelling 1000m and 2000m endurance events.
From junior competitors as young as 10 through to elite premier crews, and senior paddlers ranging from 40-plus into their 80s, the championships bring together a diverse field.
Mixed, women’s and open divisions will compete alongside breast cancer and all cancer survivor teams, underlining dragon boating’s reputation as both a high-performance and community-driven sport.
Crews will compete as both standard 20-paddler boats and in smaller 10-paddler formats using the same full-size vessels, each powered by precision teamwork, a drummer setting the rhythm and a sweep steering from the stern.
The opening two days focus on premier and junior club crews before the highly anticipated state versus state championships on April 20. The final three days spotlight senior and masters paddlers aged 40 and over.
Queensland premier squad coach Jayden Awatere said the championships represented the pinnacle of the domestic season.
“All the effort, dedication and sacrifice leading into the nationals comes down to the best of the best, state versus state,” he said.
“But regardless of the result, we walk off united, shoulder to shoulder.”
An anticipated highlight of the week will be the flag bearer ceremony at 7am, opening the state versus state competition day. Representatives from each state and territory will be escorted by members of Invictus Australia.
The ceremony reflects the strong relationship between the Australian Dragon Boat Federation and Invictus, which provides opportunities for veterans to engage with dragon boat communities across the country.
For many clubs, the stakes extend beyond national titles, with top finishers earning selection opportunities for the International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships in 2028, adding an international pathway to the competition.
