One of the biggest sports events in Hong Kong will be back soon. Mark your calendar for the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races on June 7 and June 8. The Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association will also host the Dragon Boat Carnival from May 31 to June 8. The event will transform Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade into a bustling carnival to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Keep reading to find out what to expect at this event this year.

Also, check out our guide to the best events to attend in Hong Kong this May 2025.

What to expect at the 2025 Dragon Boat races in Hong Kong?

The dragon boat competition is one of the flagship events in the summer to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. This year, the races will be fiercer than ever. More than 190 teams and over 4,500 athletes will compete in 19 races across two days. 

Expect to see elite dragon boat teams from 12 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada. Egypt and Qatar will also paddle to glory for the first time this year. Also, new this year will be the Secondary Schools Championship category.

“Dragon boat racing is not just a traditional festival activity, but also a vivid embodiment of unity, collaboration, and unyielding spirit,” said Sun Life Hong Kong Limited CEO, Clement Lam.

Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival at the special carnival and Beer Garden

Organisers will also hold a day-and-night dragon boat carnival as a build-up to the competition weekend. Starting on May 31, the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, there will be a Dragon Boat Food Lane at the Avenue of Stars. For nine days, visitors will be able to indulge in a range of culinary offerings across 10 stalls. This includes dragon boat-themed delicacies such as traditional rice dumplings and dragon boat-shaped snacks.

Visitors can also enjoy festive photo spots featuring adorable displays of Ocean Park’s adorable pandas — An An, Ke Ke, Ying Ying, and Le Le — along with the charming twin cubs, Elder Sister and Little Brother. Don’t miss the exclusive pop-up store offering a curated range of panda-themed merchandise. As a bonus, guests who make a food purchase at the stalls will receive a complimentary sticker pack featuring two unique panda-inspired designs.

Local brews, and Cirque du Soleil to take over Tsim Sha Tsui

Meanwhile, on the weekend of the races, the carnival will expand to the Urban Council Centenary Garden. There will be a live broadcast of the races as well as a Beer Garden, complete with several varieties of local draught beer. Of course, photo spots will also be around the carnival. 

Visitors can head over to the HKTB Visitor Centres at the Hong Kong Airport, Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to redeem vouchers for one complimentary draught beer. There will also be a beer voucher collection at the East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. Apart from the street music performances, there will also be flash mob acrobatic numbers by world-renowned Cirque du Soleil from Canada.

(Feature And Hero Image Credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board)

This story first appeared here 

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Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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