The Parisian river is set to take on the ambiance of an Asian traditional festival on Sunday, June 14, 2026. To mark the Duanwu Festival, a spectacular water race and a large free folklore village will take over the Hauts-de-Seine.
On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the banks of the Seine come alive for the 4th edition of the International Dragon Boat Festival. Organised by the French Dragon Boat Committee at the Quai du Halage in Rueil-Malmaison, this free event welcoming all blends spectacular water races with a large cultural village celebrating the traditions of the Duanwu. A refreshing, family-friendly outing to enjoy with friends, easily accessible via the RER A.
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Dragon Boat racing, what is it? Uan ancestral team craft that hails from China, where it was born more than 2,000 years ago. Typically you’ll find a crew of 10 or 20 paddlers (12 here) sitting shoulder to shoulder on wooden benches. Unlike rowing where you pull the oar backward, here a single paddle (like in a canoe) powers the boat forward.
At the front sits a drummer facing the crew with a drum, keeping the beat to synchronize everyone’s strokes. At the stern stands the steerer, upright with a long paddle to guide the boat and ensure it stays straight. Traditional boats are decorated with a dramatic dragon head carved at the prow and a dragon’s tail at the stern, lending a graphic, folkloric flair to the races.
For the 2026 edition, the competition takes on an international flavor, with boats from France, across Europe, and even Asia, who will clash in stunning 300-meter sprints on the river. The hotly contested rounds will run in the afternoon, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., delivering a rhythmic, colorful water ballet amid the bucolic scenery of the Hauts-de-Seine, far from the hustle and bustle of central Paris.
Alongside the water-sport feats, the festival unfolds a true festive village opposite the Île des Impressionnistes.Designed to celebrate Chinese culture and the traditions for the Duanwu Dragon Boat Festival, the space offers an immersive experiencethrough a creative market, nonprofit stalls, and interactive workshops. Gourmets will also be spoiled with a broad Asian street-food section celebrating traditional cuisine.
On the entertainment side, the day will pulse with concerts, performances on the cultural stage, and a grand traditional blessing ritual scheduled between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
