Registration Opens Tomorrow For Peterborough’s 2026 Dragon Boat Festival

The Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival celebrates 25 years of racing, with registration for this year’s festival opening Feb. 25.

file photo.

This year’s event will take place on June 13 at Del Crary Park.

The Festival will feature Dragon Boat Races, Artisan and Food Vendors, a Family Fun Zone and Beer Garden, and the first 3 teams to register will win a complimentary dragon boat lake practice.

“The planning committee has already kicked off the season,” said Festival Chair Michelle Thornton. “We’ve been brainstorming ways to commemorate our 25th anniversary this coming June. For starters, we’ve increased last year's goal by 25 per cent and we challenge everyone to do the same. Our goal for 2026 is to raise $325, 018.01 for the PRHC Foundation.”

The event continues to break records year after year, donating $400,104.01 last year, and bringing their overall total donated to the PRHC Foundation to more than 4.9 million dollars.

“We’ve always focussed on breast cancer awareness and raising funds for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre,” said Survivors Abreast team President Janice James. “We know first hand the importance of the work the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation does, and their continuing mission to bring the best cancer care the world has to offer, right here to our hospital.” 

“What an achievement it is to be celebrating 25 years of paddling on Little Lake in support of cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. The Festival is an absolutely remarkable testament to what a community can achieve when we all come together for a cause that touches so many lives,” said Lesley Heighway, President and CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “We are so grateful to every single organizer, paddler, donor, sponsor, volunteer and member of the Survivors Abreast team who pour their energy, passion and generosity into this wonderful event year after year.”

Registration officially opens at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 25. Those interested in registering can do so online.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.