Saturday 4th July 2026
Willen Lake, V10 Brickhill Street, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DS
Check out the Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival Facebook page! Follow the latest news about the event, including updates on teams entered!
The 23rd Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival takes place on Saturday 4th July 2026 at Willen Lake and up to 48 teams will compete over the 200m race course, watched by several thousand spectators. This year, we have decided to create an open charity festival where crews can raise funds for a charity of their choice.
As well as the exciting races, a wide 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 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival is mainly aimed at corporate groups who are looking for a great team building day out whilst supporting and raising funds for a charity of their choice. Upon entering, you can choose to upgrade your entry package to include a donation to your chosen charity or you can simply raise funds in your own way! Read more about 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 charity. 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.
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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 – £750 + vat (£900)
Silver entry – £1,370 + vat plus £500 donation to your chosen charity (£2,144)
Standard entry plus £500 donation to your chosen charity, company logo on the back of each side of one dragon boat, acknowledgment on the Festival website, online souvenir programme and commentary
Gold – £1,690 + vat plus £750 donation to your chosen charity (£2,778)
NEW FOR 2026:
For our 2026 Festival, we have changed it to an open charity festival! This means that you are able to fundraise for whichever charity you wish.
Top Fundraisers Prize –
Corporate Package (for up to 24 people) – Urban Battlefields
Urban Battlefields are giving the top fundraising team an incredible corporate package! Outdoor laser tag on purpose built battlegrounds sprawling over 14 acres!
A 2 hour session playing Capture the Flag, Team Elimination and Domination, using 3 mission maps. Camouflage hats and coveralls, mission instructors and unlimited ammo this is a brilliant prize for the deserving winner!
We are proud to be collaborating with several incredible charities to help promote the festival, using our platform to amplify their vital missions. If your group hasn’t yet selected a charity to support, this presents a perfect opportunity! By choosing a cause and fundraising on their behalf, you not only contribute to meaningful work but also deepen your own festival experience, creating purpose and connection through collective action.
MK Food Bank is a local, independent charity driven by the community of Milton Keynes. We believe everyone deserves access to good food and compassionate support, and we work to uplift individuals and families with dignity and kindness.
Our work is rooted in our values of community, kindness, dignity, respect, and hope. We believe in standing alongside our neighbours, not just in times of crisis, but in the journey beyond—toward stability, strength, and a future where everyone has the chance to thrive.
As a small, independent charity, we rely solely on the kindness of donors and can assure you that every penny donated will go to continue the work that we do in Milton Keynes.
Welcome to the MK Food Bank | Milton Keynes
Every paddle stroke and every pound you raise will have a direct and powerful impact, helping us to change the world for street children worldwide. With your support we can walk alongside street children for as long as they need us, and work towards a world where no child will have to live or work on the streets.
info TBC
At Harry’s Rainbow we support bereaved children in Milton Keynes and the Surrounding Areas, who’s parent or sibling have died. Our vision is to give bereaved children a brighter tomorrow. We do this by providing mentoring, emotional well-being support and advice through facilitated internal and partner agency support groups, provision of books and resources.
We also provide recreational and leisure activities to children and young people in order to improve their conditions of life and reduce the isolation felt during bereavement by facilitating contact with other children, young people and their families.
Willen Hospice provides free expert care and support for local people with a life-limiting
illness, and their loved ones, at what may be the toughest time of their lives.
https://willen-hospice.org.uk/
Al’s Pals is a small, local cancer support charity with a big heart, named in honour of Alan Dumbell, who received cancer treatment at Milton Keynes University Hospital. During his own diagnosis, Alan noticed something heartbreaking yet common: even when surrounded by his loving family, he still felt lonely, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. He often spoke about wanting a ‘buddy’ by his side, someone who understood the gaps in support and could walk with him through the hardest parts. His daughter turned that wish into a legacy, and from it Al’s Pals was born. Today, we offer companionship and emotional support to all cancer patients, at home, in the community and in hospital, making sure no one has to face their diagnosis alone. We’re hoping kind hearted people will choose Al’s Pals as their charity to fundraise for in the Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival. Your support doesn’t just raise money, it gives someone a steady hand to hold, a friendly face on the hardest days and a reminder that their community stands beside them.
MKFM
MKFM is the local radio station for Milton Keynes providing a mainstream service with all the latest news, weather and travel for the area. Broadcasting live daily from Stadium MK, MKFM supports the community in a number of ways including support for charities and local business. During the pandemic MKFM became the most listened to station locally with over 335,000 unique users visiting MKFM.com each month. With the biggest social media platform in Milton Keynes, MKFM provides a number of services for businesses including radio and digital media.
MKFM is proud to support the MK Dragon Boat Festival for another year. It’s always such a fantastic community event, and a great day out teambuilding and supporting so many good causes. We look forward to taking part (even when we come last place in the race), supporting another successful event in 2026 and for many years to come!
Business MK
Business MK is the leading business newspaper for Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, reporting, reflecting and analysing the latest business news, views and comment from the area’s thriving business community. It is mailed to around 5,000 business decision-makers every month and is available online and at selected venues around the area
Business MK has been a proud media partner of the MK Dragon Boat Festival since 2015. The event is a fantastic fundraiser for local charities and brings colleagues together for some great teambuilding, morale boosting and fun. We are delighted to give it the promotion and coverage it deserves.
MK Pulse Magazine
MK Pulse is the area’s ‘go to’ glossy lifestyle magazine. Published monthly, distributed to 32,000 homes across the Milton Keynes area and packed with superb features, information and a guide to what’s on locally each month. We are delighted to join our sister title Business MK as media partner for this year’s MK Dragon Boat Festival.
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
2026 Race Schedule will be available here w/c 22nd June 2026
We are offering a limited number of crew gazebos for hire. Each high quality unit measures 3m x 3m and comes complete with 12 chairs (more are available on request). The gazebos will provide an ideal base for your crew as well as shelter in case of inclement weather (or from the hot sun!)
Priority positions will be given to Gold crews and those booking private catering.
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 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) on submission of booking a gazebo through our entry portal.
Please note, crews may bring their own gazebos (max 3m x 3m).
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 Milton Keynes’ 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 half-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.
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.
These will include inflatables and community stalls, children’s playground and Willen Lakes usual attractions as well as:
Dragon Head Workshop
For all the creative types! Think arts and crafts but a Dragon version!
Dragon Dance and Tai Chi
Don’t miss out on our electrifying and exciting dragon dance and Tai Chi performances on the main grass triangle! Exact performance times TBC.
Face Painting
Come and enjoy the magical experience of having your face painted by Giggle and Glow! Instantly boosting confidence, allowing the shy to transform into a brave tiger or a powerful superhero!
Flypast information TBC (subject to any weather and operational restrictions).
MKFM
MKFM will have their stand on the day.
They will be available throughout the day for any questions and any latest Milton Keynes news.
Food and Drink
A1 Catering – Burgers, Bacon Rolls, Hot Dogs, Chips
Antonio’s Pizzeria
The Lakeside Bar & Grill will also be open!
All crews wishing to have private catering at the 2026 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival must book this through NewWave Events. It is not permitted for teams to bring their own commercial caterers to the event as this is against Parks Trust rules and there is not space in each team’s marked out 3m x 3m area for additional catering gazebos.
Food will be cooked at a nearby BBQ station by our professional caterers and will need to be collected at an agreed time. Priority position for pre-paid crew gazebos will be given to Gold crews and those booking private catering on a first come, first served basis.
How to book private catering
To book please go to online entry portal and pre-book with a deposit payment with your entry. You can also purchase it at a later date via the same link.
There is only a limited number of plots available for private catering so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Pre-book your alcoholic drinks with Bar Stop*
Eamon – 07977 090910 , admin@barstop.co.uk
*Due to Willen Lake’s no-alcohol policy, we can now only allow alcohol from the licensed bar. Please contact Bar Stop to pre book your alcoholic drinks in advance or simply buy on the day. Drinks will be served in plastic cups. Own alcohol is not permitted onsite, and you could be fined
A selection of food & drinks cash stalls will also be available on the day exclusively for the crews and their supporters
*Please note own BBQ’s and alcohol are now NOT permitted on site*
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 🙂
#miltonkeynesdragonboatfestival
Our photographer for 2026 Milton Keynes Dragon Boat Festival is Magdelena Sienicka
Address: Willen Lake, V10 Brickhill St, Milton Keynes MK15 0DS
Parking: Please visit Willen Lake The Parks Trust website for more details https://willenlake.org.uk/discover-willen-lake/plan-your-visit/car-parking/
WHAT DO WE NEED TO BRING ON THE DAY?
We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle 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.
Please contact us for availability and costs for a pitch.
Milton Keynes 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 Milton Keynes, 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 Milton Keynes 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.
