27. Berlin Dragonboat City Cup 2026

Dragon Boats on the Olympic Course

When nine colorfully decorated dragons, each with 20 paddlers on board, race across the Olympic Regatta Course on the first weekend of July, it's a spectacle that Berlin offers only once a year. The Berlin Dragonboat City Cup will celebrate its 27th edition in 2026 and is considered one of the largest dragon boat races in Germany. More than 70 teams from all over Germany and neighboring countries will compete – from amateur clubs to international racing crews.

Tradition with Chinese Roots

The dragon boat race dates back to a Chinese custom over 2,000 years old: in honor of the poet Qu Yuan, long, narrow boats decorated with dragon heads are paddled. In Berlin, the Berlin Dragon Boat Company has been organizing the event since 1999, anchoring the tradition with a festive dragon ceremony to open the event.

Olympic Regatta Course Grünau

The course is located in the Grünau district on the Langen See in the Treptow-Köpenick borough and has Olympic history: the rowing and canoe competitions of the Olympic Games took place here in 1936. The 2,000-meter long, fully marked course is now one of the few regatta courses in Germany with wave reflection systems, making fair conditions possible even in windy weather.

Atmosphere by the Water

While the teams compete in their heats and semi-finals, there are food trucks, live music, and a relaxed festival atmosphere on the shore. Located in the Treptow-Köpenick borough, Grünau is one of Berlin's most scenic districts – oak forests, Wilhelminian-era villas, swimming spots on the Müggelsee. Those who don't paddle themselves come to watch, for a picnic, or simply for a summer day by the water.