Saturday 5th September 2026
Ditton Meadows, Fen Ditton, Cambridge, CB5 8ST
Check out the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival Facebook page! Follow the latest news about the event, including updates on teams entered!
The 20th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival takes place on Saturday 5th September 2026 on the River Cam at Fen Ditton and more than 40 teams are expected to compete over the 200m race course, watched by several hundred spectators. The Ditton Meadows location offers a superb venue and, as well as the exciting races, a range of bankside entertainment, food stalls and fun activities guarantee a fabulous day out for all the family! Read more about entry levels below.
Dragon boat racing is the fastest growing water activity in Britain today – as well as the most fun! Up to 10 people paddle each 30’ boat with a drummer at the front beating time and our helm at the tail steering a straight course. No previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit!
The Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival is mainly aimed at corporate groups who are looking for a great team building day out whilst supporting and raising money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. Upon entering, you can choose to upgrade your entry package to include a donation to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital or you can simply raise funds in your own way! Read more about the charity and how you can help below.
We cannot wait to deliver this amazing event again and we hope to see you all there! Let’s make this year the one to remember and raise as much money as we can for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. Want to find out more about NewWave Events? Visit https://newwave-events.co.uk/ or simply give us a call on 01536 674 748, we would love to introduce ourselves!
So, are you interested in entering a team? You are in the right place – It’s quick and simple! All you need to do is read the entry categories below, choose the package which suits your team best, click on the ‘enter online now’ button and fill in your details on our online entry portal.
Follow the step by step process on the online entry portal and choose to pay by card (transaction charge 2%), BACS or cheque. Once the payment is received, you will be able to see your entry acknowledgement on the online entry portal dashboard. Please note that your entry is not confirmed until we have received payment and your online entry dashboard shows the entry acknowledgement information.
If you are the assigned Crew Manager, we will be contacting you with any new information related to the event.
 |
Entry Levels
Entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. No refunds will be given once an entry has been accepted and there can be no refund if the Festival or racing has to be cancelled due to conditions outside the control of NewWave Events.
Standard entry – £700 + vat (£840)
Silver Entry – £1,260 + vat plus £500 donation to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (2,012)
Gold Entry – £1,720 + vat plus £750 donation to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (£2,814)
Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital
Our aim is to improve care for patients today at Addenbrooke’s, and for generations to come with new hospitals like the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
The new specialist cancer hospital is being built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, bringing together clinical and research expertise in a new world-class building, designed in partnership with our patients and staff. We will detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.
Your donations will help to change the story of cancer. The breakthroughs and innovations we deliver will change the way we detect and treat cancer far beyond the new hospital, bringing hope to millions of people.
To get involved please visit www.helpyourhospital.co.uk
Tel: 01223 217 757
E-mail: events@act4addenbrookes.org.uk
Visit: www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk
Facebook/actfundraising
TwitterACTcharity
Reg charity no: 1170103
All crews are encouraged to raise money for the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival charity Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust using the on-line giving information. All the fees from standard entries go towards the costs of running the event. The charity benefits only from sponsorship money raised, or from gold and silver entries.
Start raising money today!
Top fundraisers’ prize
The team raising the most money for ACT will be awarded the charity trophy and receive a special prize courtesy of the Tivoli in Cambridge. The Tivoli will treat you to a round of golf for your team as well as six tear and share pizzas and 2 bottles of prosecco to go with it! For more information visit: www.thetivoli.co.uk
Event Sponsor – TBC
Media Partners:
Cambridge Radio
Cambridge Independent
Crews comprise of up to 10 paddlers plus a drummer – squads may be larger (max 15 persons). Crews can be mixed, all female or all male and organisations may enter more than one crew. The minimum age is 16 and no previous experience is required. All crew members must be confident in cold water conditions, wearing light clothing and in moving water and compete entirely at their own risk. BDA qualified helms, buoyancy aids and water safety cover are provided by the organisers. All crews accepted for entry must abide with the competition rules and entry details on this website. Each crew is guaranteed a minimum of 3 races (subject to conditions).
The Crew Manager will receive a full Crew Managers Information Pack following email confirmation of payment for the event via the online entry portal.
Race Schedule
The full 2026 race schedule will be available here from W/C 24th August 2026.
Crew gazebos are available for hire. If you’ve entered a standard or a silver package you can purchase a 3m x 3m crew gazebo with 12 chairs – £220 + vat
*Gold package includes a gazebo in the cost*
Each high quality unit measures 3m x 3m and comes complete with 12 chairs (more are available on request).
The gazebos will be situated in a good position overlooking the racecourse and will provide an ideal base for your crew as well as shelter in case of inclement weather (or from the hot sun!)
The gazebos will be delivered and erected for you before the event and taken away at the end and all come with your company name board attached. We have managed to negotiate an excellent rate with our supplier and are providing them at cost plus a small administration fee.
Gazebos will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (max one gazebo per team entry) once booked and pay for via our online entry portal.
Please note that crews may bring their own gazebos but space will only be allocated after the paid gazebos by the start.
Book Crew Gazebo
To purchase a gazebo please go to online entry portal and add it with your entry. You can also purchase it at a later date via the same link.
Promote your business by advertising in our Souvenir Programme
A printed Souvenir Programme will be available to all participants and spectators.
A QR code with the digital souvenir programme and live results will be available to all crews and spectators on the day.
Advertise in the souvenir programme and promote your company’s services or products at Cambridge’s largest corporate team event.
How to book an advert
Advertising can be booked directly through our online entry portal.
Please note: The Gold entry package includes a full page advert in our souvenir programme.
A5, full colour, printed and online portrait publication.
Advertisement Sizes and Costs (width x height)
Full page: 148.5 x 210mm = £250 + VAT
Half page: 148.5 x 105mm = £150 + VAT
Quarter page: 74.25 x 105mm = £100 + VAT
For inside covers, add 20%. For the back cover, add 25%.
Technical Specifications
File format: High-resolution PDF.
Image resolution: 300dpi for photos and drawings.
Scaling: No more than 120%.
Fonts: Must be embedded or outlined in the PDF.
Safe area: Keep all critical text and elements 3-5mm inside the document edge.
Food and Drink
A variety of high quality hot and cold food and drink will be available from professional vendors on site. Selection includes Burgers, Hot Dogs and Breakfast as well as vegetarian/vegan options, specialty coffees and ice cream.
Urban Outdoors food vendor
NB: costs subject to change
Antonio’s Pizzeria
Bar – Barstop
Enjoy a drink at the on-site bar. Dragon boat paddlers please remember alcohol and watersports do not mix so please restrict your drinking of alcohol until after your races.
Flypast information TBC (subject to any weather and operational restrictions).
Apart from the spectacular racing which will take place every 10-15 minutes, the following activities will run continually on the bank for both competitors and spectators.
Funfair Rides
Dragon Head Workshop
For all the creative types! Think arts and crafts but a Dragon version!
Caricaturist
Elevate the excitement at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival with captivating live caricature artistry! With a talent for quick black and white (and colour) sketches, each completed in around 5 minutes, our artist adds a unique and lively element to the festivities. Perfect for individuals or groups, this engaging experience is sure to leave a lasting impression at the Dragon Boat Festival – a memorable blend of art and entertainment!
Chinese Lion Dance, Chinese Dance and Tai Chi demonstration
In keeping with the Chinese theme of the event, Cambridge Chinese Community Centre will run three performances during the day including a Chinese Lion Dance, Traditional Chinese Dance and Tai Chi demonstration and an enchanting Chinese Dance performance with Tai Chi Sword or KungFu Fan. These are currently scheduled for 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm.
Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust
Visit the display and speak to the representatives of our Festival charity ACT and find out more about the amazing work that they do.
They will be running some interactive fundraising activities throughout the day.
Cambridge 105 Radio
Cambridge 105 Radio will be present on the day.
They will be available throughout the day for any questions and will be doing some live on air interviews with participants.
A link to view all the photos from the day will be sent out to crew managers as soon as they are ready post event.
Please share them on your social media and tag NewWave Events and Festival partners 🙂
#cambridgedragonboatfestival
Our photographer for 2026 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival is Magdalena Sienicka
VENUE ADDRESS – Ditton Meadows, Fen Ditton, CB5 8ST
FREE PARKING – At the venue and village recreation ground
DIRECTIONS – The venue is easily accessed from both the A14 and central
Cambridge. Entering Fen Ditton via the B1047, you will need to turn down Fen Ditton High Street. At the end, follow the track to the dragon boat site. Signs will give directions on the day.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO BRING ON THE DAY?
We recommend you bring water supply to stay hydrated, sun cream in case of hot weather and a sun hat. We also suggest you bring a change of clothes too as you may get wet from splashes when paddling.
If you are the crew manager, please also bring your signed risk forms for your team.
Other than that you just need a bit of determination and team spirit!
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
On the day of the event we recommend you wear comfortable sports clothing and trainers or strap on shoes. Flip flops are strictly NOT allowed.
Rain coats and/or hats and sunglasses may also be a good idea depending on the weather!
ARE PETS ALLOWED?
The event site is an open, public area so pets are allowed.
Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival is an exciting event for team building, providing a fabulous experience that celebrates the strength of teamwork. This sport, which involves paddling a large, dragon-shaped boat in unison, requires a high level of teamwork and communication. Each member of the team must work together, synchronizing their movements to propel the boat forward. This element of coordination and cooperation is a powerful metaphor for the workings of a successful corporate team, where everyone’s performance contributes to the overall success of the company.
Dragon boat festival in Cambridge, in particular, are ideal for corporate groups. These events provide a perfect team building day out on the water, where employees can have fun and learn new skills. The competitive nature of the races rules the spirits and encourages a positive, can-do attitude. Furthermore, the festival includes additional activities and opportunities for socializing, which can further enhance team building and cohesion.
In conclusion, dragon boat festival in Cambridge is more than just a sport; it’s a tool for building stronger, more effective teams. Whether it’s a one-off team building day or a regular part of your company’s culture, dragon boat racing can provide a boost to your team’s performance and morale.
