2026 N.E.W. Dragon Boat Festival
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS A TEAM CAPTAIN.
You must register as a team captain to create your roster and send waivers.
RACING CLASSES
Club Mixed
Community Non-Profit
Corporate Festival Mixed
Youth
ENTRY FEES
$1000 - Community/Non-Profit Team
$1000 - Cancer Survivors Entry
$800 - Youth
$600 - Club Teams
RACE COURSE
RACE FORMAT
RACE SITE
Join us for the N.E.W. Dragon Boat Festival at Leach Amphitheatre, Oshkosh. The event will feature dragon boat races, performances, food trucks, artists, and vendors to celebrate Northeast Wisconsin’s diverse people. The Festival is free and open to all.
The N.E.W. Dragon Boat Race Festival is an outdoor event that celebrates the diverse communities of Northeast Wisconsin. The festival welcomes newcomers to the region by promoting community-wide social connectedness and belonging, and boosting local economies through a conscious curation of multi-ethnic food fair, cultural arts and performances, immersive activities, global vendor market, and affinity fair. Presented by the City of Oshkosh, City of Oshkosh DEI Committee, and the Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association (NEWCA), this traditional dragon boat race encourages teams of all skills and abilities to compete. Gather your friends, family and co-workers to form your dragon boat racing team of up to 24 individuals, and experience team building, fundraising, camaraderie and fun!
Race Format: 2 races guaranteed every team (possibility of 3 races for qualifying teams). Medals for top 3 finishers in each division
2026 Rates
Secure your spot with a minimum $250 deposit. Remainder of registration fee due by July 28th.
- Competitive Dragon Boat Club $600
- Youth (ages 14 to 18) $800
- Community (nonprofits, government) $1000
- Cancer Survivor $1000
- Corporate $1200
Note: If you would like to race but don’t have a full team, you can either register as a Team Captain and let us know how many paddlers you need (we will help, but no guarantees) or contact NEW Dragon Boat Festival and we will put you in touch with teams needing paddlers.
Each division must have a minimum of 3 teams registered. If fewer are register, divisions may be combined.
Register and pay in full by July 28th. No refunds after July 28th. Registration closed July 28th.
Registration Includes
- 1 practice scheduled in the week leading up to the event.
- Racing a minimum of 2 times (max 3) on race day on a 300 m racecourse on the Fox River.
- 1 race event t-shirt (must be registered and waiver signed before 28 July to guarantee t-shirt in requested size)
- All of the necessary equipment during the race, including a boat, life vests, paddles, drum, and a steersperson/coach.
Teams will be made up of 16 to 20 paddlers and 1 drummer (no prior drumming experience necessary!). There are no gender requirements; men, women, trans people, nonbinary, are all welcome on all teams!
The maximum number will be capped at 48 total teams. Do not wait too long to register!
The registration link is now live!… NEW Dragon Boat Festival
Paddle for a Cause
The N.E.W. Dragon Boat Festival is a vibrant celebration of culture, belonging, wellness, and community that brings thousands together through sport, art, and shared experiences. Beginning in 2026, the festival will proudly operate under the Fox Valley Community Learning Center (FVCLC), a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive spaces for education, culture, and entrepreneurship. Dragon boat racing itself represents powerful unity—twenty paddlers, one rhythm, one goal—and that collective spirit drives our mission. Every registration, team fundraising effort, and sponsorship directly supports multicultural programming, accessible cultural experiences, youth and family engagement, and economic opportunities for underrepresented small businesses. By joining us, you help build a lasting community impact rooted in representation, education, and cultural appreciation.