Vancouver will close out its summer festival season with a free day of dragon boat racing, live music, cultural programming and community activities on August 22, as the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Regatta takes over Concord Pacific Place.
Organized by Dragon Boat BC and supported by Concord Pacific and TD, the one-day event will bring some of Vancouver’s top dragon boat teams together for their final local races before heading to Taiwan the following week to compete at the 2026 Club Crew World Championships.
The regatta is being presented as a celebration of Vancouver’s multicultural community and the traditions surrounding dragon boat, with racing taking place alongside music, food, local artisans and cultural programming.
“The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Regatta is an opportunity to celebrate Vancouver’s diversity, community spirit, and the traditions that bring people together,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. “After an incredible summer of welcoming the world, this is a chance for residents and visitors alike to gather on the waterfront, celebrate our local culture, and enjoy a day with family, friends, and neighbours.”
A final Vancouver race before the world championships
For local dragon boat teams, August 22 will have a competitive significance beyond the day itself. The regatta will be their last opportunity to race in Vancouver before travelling to Taiwan for the 2026 Club Crew World Championships.
The event also provides a local finale between editions of the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, with organizers confirming that the larger festival will return to Vancouver in 2027.
A special announcement regarding the festival’s return, scheduled for June 25 to 27, 2027, will be made at noon on August 22 from the TD Main Stage.
Music and culture on the waterfront
Competition will be paired with an entertainment lineup focused entirely on local culture and music.
The TD Main Stage will feature Vancouver performers throughout the day, with globally acclaimed EDM artist Hoang set to headline with a special hometown performance marking the end of summer.
“We’re thrilled to be the premier sponsor for the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Regatta and welcome a stellar roster of local artists to the TD Main Stage,” said Julie Armour, Senior Vice President and Pacific Region Head at TD Bank Group. “As we close out summer, we’re looking forward to an exciting day of competition that showcases top Vancouver teams, incredible musical performances and celebrating our community’s rich cultural fabric.”
Visitors will also find displays and activities involving Vancouver’s Chinatown community and Indigenous artists and groups, along with local artisans and food trucks.
The event is designed to be accessible to the wider community, with admission free throughout the day.
Exploring the history behind dragon boat
The lead-up to the regatta will also include a family-oriented cultural program in Chinatown.
Dragon Boat BC and the Chinese Canadian Museum are collaborating with Five Blessings Collective on a live audio play exploring the roots and history of dragon boat. The program is scheduled for August 15 in Chinatown and will offer another opportunity for families and visitors to learn about the cultural traditions behind the sport before the regatta takes place.
Dragon boat has deep roots in Chinese culture and has become an important part of Vancouver’s summer sporting and cultural landscape. The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, organized by Dragon Boat BC, is one of the city’s best-known annual multicultural events.
A festival site with a changing future
The August 22 regatta also comes as Concord Pacific continues planning for the future of the Concord Pacific Place site, located on the former Expo 86 lands.
“We are grateful to see TD, the Province of British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver come together to support community festivals like this,” said Terry Hui, president and CEO of Concord Pacific.
Hui noted that while the site has become an important location for community gatherings and events, it is not expected to remain available for general event use indefinitely as development plans move forward.
Concord Pacific said it intends to continue working with the community and City Hall to incorporate major community events into its future planning.
Free community event on August 22
The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Regatta will take place August 22, 2026, at Concord Pacific Place in Vancouver.
Along with the dragon boat races and TD Main Stage, the event will feature cultural displays, food trucks, local vendors and family activities, giving Vancouverites another opportunity to spend a summer day on the waterfront.
The event is supported by Concord Pacific, TD, Lincoln Canada, Oddball Workshop, Real Canadian Superstore, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and Sport Hosting Vancouver.
The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, also known as Dragon Boat BC, is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization behind the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival and Dragon Zone Paddling Club in Olympic Village. The organization also operates races, cultural programs and community initiatives throughout B.C., including programs aimed at making paddling more accessible to youth and people facing barriers to participation.