The Dragon Boat Festival is Back!
About the Dragon Boat Race
What could beat the brilliance of raising money by racing on a floating dragon? Zero. It stands unmatched. The Dragon Boat Festival never disappoints and always leaves a lasting impression by coming back better than ever before! The event consists of three consecutive days, this year, these are 3rd to 5th July 2026. We celebrate it to honor and support charities - to raise money alongside the boat races there is landside entertainment such as international food and souvenir vendors, different types of workshops, music and loads more for families to enjoy!
A Community Event
We work together the same way the paddlers do! Teamwork is everything. As with our previous Community Festivals, they are organised, planned and delivered by volunteers. The event would not be possible without the support we get from local businesses and volunteers. We are raising money for good local causes in the district and equally showcasing everything that is wonderful about Bradford, its District and West Yorkshire as a whole.
We appreciate all the wonderful contributors who have supported us; Tiffin's Sandwiches who never fail to amaze us by providing lunch for the volunteers, and Thomas Crompson who provides all the fencing and more to support the physical infrastructure of the festival, and many others who help to make the event possible each year.
How You Can Get Involved:
Get a team together - Your team pays a team registration fee done via the website below, which contributes towards the costs of holding the festival, your team collectively then raises funds to support either your chosen charity or the Lord Mayors charity of the year. Team capacity is 25 people per team.
Sign up here - www.bradforddragonboatfestival.co.uk
Volunteer - The festival would not be possible without our team of volunteers. We need volunteers that can get involved with the running of the festival over the 3 days. It’s great fun and an excellent way of experiencing the festival.
Donate - All offers of donations are greatly appreciated. This can be anything from: toys; goodie bags for the prize draws; food for the volunteers; or infrastructure and entertainment props that aid the running of the festival. Although we appreciate all those who supported us in the past, we need volunteers and donations to support us with many aspects of running the festival this year. Any support or contribution you’re able to give would mean a lot. So, if you are interested in volunteering or donating contact- tina.lafferty@bradford.gov.uk
About Me
As a T-Level student working towards my qualifications in Management and Administration, I am genuinely honored to be working alongside Bradford Council for my work placement, which has given me the chance not just to observe how a Community event functions behind the scenes, but to actively contribute to it by assisting, promoting, shaping and deliver an event of such scale. Working behind the scenes of a community event, I learned how much these events rely on volunteers and donations. The importance of project management and the stages such as collaboration, planning, and time management. My course focuses on developing practical skills and I’ve seen how closely these align with the responsibilities I’ve taken on during my placement. Jasmine Nicolau