20th Dragon Boat Festival at Haselbacher See

The Haselbacher See — Watersports Centre in the Altenburger Land

The Haselbacher See is located between Meuselwitz and Haselbach in the Altenburger Land — created by flooding a former open-cast lignite mine. Today, it is a local recreation area with a beach, watersports, and camping facilities. The Aqua Fun Wintersdorf e.V. club operates a watersports centre with its own club grounds on the lake and is the organiser of the annual Dragon Boat Festival.

20 Years of Dragon Boats

With its 20th edition in 2026, the Dragon Boat Festival celebrates a significant anniversary. Since 2006 — the year of the first event — the festival has become a firm fixture in the Altenburger Land summer calendar. Over 100 teams from companies, clubs, village communities, and private groups of friends participate annually, making the race one of the largest dragon boat festivals in Central Germany.

Dragon Boat — Sport and Team Building

Dragon boat racing originally comes from ancient China and is now practiced worldwide. A dragon boat typically has 20 paddlers, a drummer in the bow, and a helmsman at the stern — teamwork is everything. At the Haselbacher festival, teams race on a course across the lake in heats, semi-finals, and a final.

Registration and Training

The registration deadline for teams is June 14, 2026. Training with dragon boats is offered from the beginning of May 2026 — the club provides boats and coaches, so even inexperienced teams can be race-ready after a few training sessions. This low-threshold entry makes the festival accessible.

More Than Just Races: Music, Food, Family

Alongside the sporting programme, there is music on a stage, food and drinks at several stalls, and family entertainment on the beach. Those not paddling can soak up the atmosphere on the shore, enjoying the view of the colourful dragon boats, the drumming, and the exciting racing action. The festival is therefore not just a sporting event, but also a summer family celebration by the lake.