The core racing area of the Hangzhou Super Cup and Dragon Boat World Championships 2026. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

The Hangzhou Super Cup and Dragon Boat World Championships 2026 will open on Sept 30 at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Over 1,000 athletes from 42 countries and regions will compete through Oct 3.

The event features canoe sprint, canoe slalom, and dragon boat racing, with nearly 100 Olympic and world champions among the competitors. China's 28-member canoeing team includes Olympic champions Ji Bowen and Sun Mengya, as well as Hangzhou athletes Ding Shengkai, Wang Nan, and Yu Shiying.

The championships will make their mainland China debut since the event was launched in 2005. The Fuyang edition is also the largest in the championships' history. The event will also feature a mass paddleboarding race, marking the first time the World Rowing Federation has introduced a public competition at a top-level international event.

Another highlight is the spectator experience. Rather than building temporary grandstands or closing off viewing areas, organizers are adopting a "riverbank as grandstand" concept. Large LED screens will provide live coverage, while spectators can watch along the Fuchun River and access all competition events with a single ticket, priced from 50 yuan ($7.45).

A water-sports festival will run alongside the competition throughout the National Day holiday, featuring music, food, markets, cultural displays, interactive activities, and paddleboarding.