NI Hospice Dragon Boat Race 2026

What to Expect

The NI Hospice Dragon Boat Race returns to the River Lagan in Belfast for three days of team racing from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 September 2026, with Day 1 on the Thursday. Teams of paddlers, usually made up of workplace groups, sports clubs or friends fundraising together, crew traditional dragon boats along a set course on the river, competing in heats through the morning and afternoon. It is one of Northern Ireland Hospice’s flagship fundraising events, run to help pay for the charity’s in-patient and at-home hospice care across Northern Ireland, and organisers note that teams unable to make Day 1 can take part on either of the other two scheduled days instead. The atmosphere on the riverbank is festival-like, with music, food stalls and supporters cheering crews on from the towpath, making it as much a spectator event as a competitive one. No previous paddling experience is required, since each boat comes with a qualified drummer and helm to keep the crew in time and steer the course, and teams typically spend a short warm-up session on the water before their first heat to get used to the boat. It has become a fixture on the Belfast fundraising calendar precisely because it suits large groups, giving workplaces and clubs an easy way to enter a team, split the fundraising target between members, and turn a charity commitment into a genuinely fun team day out.

Good to Know

• Dates: Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 September 2026, with racing from around 9.00am each day.
• Venue: River Lagan, Lagan Towpath, Belfast.
• Entry is by team registration through NI Hospice, with the exact fee confirmed at the point of sign-up.
• Register a team via nihospice.org/get-involved/events-appeals/dragon-boat-race-2026/.
• Funds raised go directly to Northern Ireland Hospice’s care services.
• Spectators can watch from the towpath free of charge.

Getting There

The Lagan Towpath in Belfast is easily reached on foot or by bike from the city centre, with several Translink bus routes stopping nearby along the Ormeau and Stranmillis embankments. Limited on-street parking is available in the surrounding streets.