The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation will once again put its Elite paddlers up against the region’s best when it travels to Hong Kong for the 50th edition of the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races (IDBR), set for June 27 and 28.
The Filipino crew arrives carrying recent hardware. At the same competition, the team took gold in the International Open Competition in 2024 and followed that with silver in the 500m Women’s International Championship in 2025. Sanctioned by both the International Dragon Boat Federation and the Asian Dragon Boat Federation, the PDBF has built its standing on world titles and record-setting runs.
This year’s gathering draws more than 4,500 athletes representing 16 countries and regions, making it among the largest meets of its kind in Asia.
The half-century milestone has prompted organizers to add fresh competitive formats. A “50th Anniversary Fisherman Invitational Cup” returns the sport to its roots, pitting traditional fishermen’s crews against one another aboard wooden dragon boats. A separate “50th Anniversary Championship” gathers the winners from the event’s main divisions to settle who claims the Ultimate Dragon Boat Champion title.
The racing forms part of a broader push by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), whose “Hong Kong Summer Fun” campaign pairs marquee cultural programming with time-limited travel deals citywide.
Spectators heading to the Avenue of Stars will find a Dragon Boat Food Lane and Beer Garden, plus themed installations and hands-on activities built around the city’s paddling traditions. Heritage workshops cover crafts such as fishing net plaiting, blown sugar making, and lye rice dumpling making, while a virtual reality paddling setup gives visitors a taste of the sport without getting wet. A dedicated viewing zone places the crowd close to the harbour action.
On the promotions side, HKTB is layering travel perks onto the festivities. Tourists who book hotel stays of at least HK$1,500 through Trip.com or Ctrip between June 15 and August 31, for trips falling between July 1 and September 14, can access attraction deals and transport discounts reaching 50%. Eligible options run from the Peak Tram, theme parks, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, and Noah’s Ark to round-trip Airport Express fares and bus day passes.
First staged in 1976, the races trace back to competitions among fishermen’s boats in the Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter before growing into the international fixture they are today.
