Flensburg Dragon Boat Race

Dragon Boats at the Schiffbrücke Shore

Flensburg is Germany's northernmost major city, the district capital of the Flensburg district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, with over 90,000 inhabitants and one of Northern Germany's most beautiful natural harbours. The Hafenspitze marks the innermost end of the Flensburg Fjord – a city landmark and the ideal playground for the Flensburg Dragon Boat Race. After a decades-long break, the race returned in 2025 and immediately established itself as a sporty-social summer highlight in the Altstadt district.

2nd Edition After Comeback

The 2026 edition is the second run since its revival in 2025. Up to 70 teams compete against the clock in dragon boats – companies, clubs, friend groups. The character is a mix of sport and harbour festival:

• Racing over several heats and a final
• Accompanying programme with live music
• Regional culinary delights
• Family area for spectators
• After-Race Party from 6:00 PM onwards

Organised by Lions Club and Leo Club

Behind the race are two service-oriented organisations from Flensburg: the Lions Club Flensburg-Schiffbrücke and the Leo Club Flensburg, the youth organisation of the Lions. The main sponsor is the Nord-Ostsee Sparkasse (NOSPA), along with AZF. The surplus from the event – team registration fees (€1,200 to €2,500 plus VAT), sponsor contributions, and donations – flows into regional social projects in the Flensburg area.

Hafenspitze as a Stage

Few locations in Schleswig-Holstein are as well-suited for watersports spectacles as the Hafenspitze. Directly surrounded by the historic Old Town, the Maritime Museum, and the promenade along the fjord, the race unfolds against a postcard backdrop that entertains the audience between heats. In the Flensburg district, the Dragon Boat Race is thus the sporting event on the August calendar.