International paddlers compete on the Fuchun waters during a previous match. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

The 2026 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Hangzhou Super Cup and ICF Dragon Boat World Championships will be held from Sept 30 to Oct 3 at the Fuyang Water Sports Center, organizers announced at a signing ceremony in Hangzhou on April 29.

The event will feature four major disciplines — sprint canoe, slalom, dragon boat and stand-up paddleboarding — with 65 medal events and nearly 1,000 athletes from more than 40 countries and regions expected to compete.

Hangzhou sports officials said the tournament marks the first time the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships will be held on the Chinese mainland, hailing it as a milestone for the global growth of dragon boat racing.

Thomas Konietzko, president of the ICF, said the event highlights Hangzhou's growing role as a global hub for water sports since the establishment of the ICF Hangzhou representative office.

The competition will also introduce a public stand-up paddleboarding exhibition race, with around 300 amateur participants from around the world invited to compete alongside elite athletes.

Held during China's National Day holiday, the event venue sits near the scenic landscapes featured in the famous Chinese painting Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, offering visitors a blend of sports and cultural tourism.

The logo for the 2026 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]