HKTB’s Cultural Beat Platform Showcases Spectacular Highlight “Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races”

Dragon Boat Carnival to Run for 9 Days in a Row Featuring Thrilling Races, Festive Delicacies and Beer, and Spectacular World-Class Acrobatics from Day to Night 

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched a Hong Kong Cultural Beat campaign to showcase the city’s extraordinary lineups of traditional festivals and cultural events for visitors and locals. One of the true highlights of the calendar is the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races – a flagship sports extravaganza co-organised by the HKTB and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association (HKCDBA) and proudly title-sponsored by Sun Life. The event takes place from 31 May to 8 June and will transform Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade into a day-and-night dragon boat carnival, featuring a festive Dragon Boat Food Lane and “Panda Friends@Ocean Park Hong Kong” Festive Photo Spots from Dragon Boat Festival Day onwards. As the dragon boat races get under way, the excitement will climb with a Beer Garden, Race Broadcast Viewing Zones, and worldclass acrobatic performances by Cirque du Soleil. This spectacular event gives visitors and locals the opportunity to immerse themselves in Hong Kong’s traditional festivities with a host of delightful experiences and activities in the heart of the city. 

An International Showdown: More than 190 Teams from Around the World   

The dragon boat races will be more fiercely contested than ever this year with more than 190 teams and over 4,500 athletes competing in 19 races on 7 and 8 June, surpassing last year’s impressive turnout. Elite dragon boat teams from 12 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Mainland, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and first-time participants Egypt and Qatar will paddle for glory in Victoria Harbour. In an exciting addition, a new Secondary Schools Championship category has been introduced to inspire young people to dive into Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage. Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled showdown as the Disciplinary Forces Championship takes the stage, pitting multiple teams from Hong Kong’s disciplined and auxiliary services against each other. 

HKTB Executive Director Mr Dane Cheng said, “We have taken innovation to new heights this year by transforming the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races into an immersive dayand-night dragon boat carnival. The event offers visitors and locals a blend of cultural activities and celebrations steeped in Hong Kong’s east-meets-west heritage, enriching the city’s potential for mega-event tourism. We are delighted the event has secured prestigious title sponsorship once again this year, and we are confident our traditional festive events will resonate deeply with spectators. Looking ahead, we will continue to build closer partnerships with the business community to drive the success of such events and unlock even greater economic benefits for our city.” 

HKCDBA Chairman Mr Arnold Chung said, “We are overjoyed to collaborate with the HKTB once again this year to host the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races on the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade. As one of the highest-standard international dragon boat competitions with a long and storied history, this event attracts athletes from around the world. The HKCDBA remains steadfast in its commitment to promote the culture and spirit of dragon boat racing, brings traditional festive customs to the international arena, and support the growth of dragon boating in Hong Kong and overseas.” 

Sun Life Hong Kong Limited CEO Mr Clement Lam said, “Dragon boat racing is not just a traditional festival activity, but also a vivid embodiment of unity, collaboration, and unyielding spirit. Sun Life has been rooted in Hong Kong for over 130 years and has been sponsoring dragon boat events for the past 16 years. This year, we are honoured to collaborate with the HKTB as the title sponsor of the ‘Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races’ for the first time. This event will allow global dragon boat athletes to compete on Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour.”  

He added, “While preserving this traditional culture, the event also embodies Sun Life's determination to move forward together and advance in the face of challenges. Through this event, we hope to encourage the public to adopt healthy lifestyles and bring a positive impact to the community.” 

Day-and-Night Carnival Features Culinary Delights and Acrobatics to Set Pulses Racing 

The HKTB will transform East Tsim Sha Tsui into a day-and-night dragon boat carnival in the build-up to the races. From Dragon Boat Festival Day on 31 May, the Dragon Boat Food Lane on the Avenue of Stars will serve up nine consecutive days of mouthwatering culinary offerings as 10 stalls offer dragon boat-themed delicacies, including traditional rice dumplings, dragon-boat-shaped street snacks, and refreshing summer drinks. The area will also include festive photo spots with displays of Ocean Park Hong Kong’s adorable Panda Friends – the giant pandas An An, Ke Ke, Ying Ying, and Le Le, along with the adorable twin cubs Elder Sister and Little Brother. A special pop-up store will offer a selection of panda-themed merchandise. Visitors who make purchases at the food lane stalls will receive a complimentary panda-themed sticker pack containing two designs from a collection of 10, while stocks last. 

Panda Friends@Ocean Park Hong Kong Festive Photo Spots
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Panda Friends Dragon Boat Cooling Towel, Badge and T-shirt

On the race weekend of 7-8 June, the carnival will expand to the Urban Council Centenary Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui East to spread the festive spirit through the city. A zone will host live broadcasts of the races and the HKTB has teamed up with San Miguel Brewery Hong Kong to set up a Beer Garden offering several varieties of local draught beer. Photo spots will also be set up throughout the carnival, inviting everyone to capture the celebration. Visitors can visit HKTB Visitor Centres in Hong Kong International Airport, Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, or the beer voucher collection for visitors on the East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and redeem vouchers for one complimentary draught beer in the Beer Garden. Beer vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Each tourist can acquire the voucher once only.  

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In addition to street music performances, the carnival will feature exciting flash mob acrobatic performances by the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil from Canada. The Beer Garden and the Dragon Boat Food Lane on the Avenue of Stars will both remain open until 10 pm, enabling visitors and locals to enjoy the carnival atmosphere throughout the day and evening. The HKTB is also joining forces with the Tsim Sha Tsui East Property Developers Association to offer dining and shopping promotions for over 20 nearby shops, including dining discounts of up to 30% at hotels. 

A One-Stop Guide to the Extravaganza   

The HKTB has arranged for the finals and award ceremony to be broadcast live on RTHK TV 32, allowing viewers to capture the thrills and spills of the races on TV, online, and on streaming devices. Locals and visitors can also join an online vote via HKCDBA official website on 8 June to choose their favourite dragon boat team in a fancy dress competition. 

The HKTB is promoting the dragon boat races extensively on DiscoverHongKong’s social media platforms and through partnerships with influencers from Mainland and Southeast Asia. The CentralMid-Levels Escalator and other tourist hotspots in the city will be decorated with dragon boat-themed promotions to ensure everyone in Hong Kong gets caught up in the excitement.  

The HKTB is promoting the dragon boat races extensively on DiscoverHongKong’s social media platforms and through partnerships with influencers from Mainland and Southeast Asia. The CentralMid-Levels Escalator and other tourist hotspots in the city will be decorated with dragon boat-themed promotions to ensure everyone in Hong Kong gets caught up in the excitement.  

For more details about the events, please visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board's website : https://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/what-s-new/events/dragonboat-races.html