Int’l Dragon Boat Festival, Sarawak Regatta to take over Kuching Waterfront this Oct 23-Nov 1

Abdul Karim (eighth right) in a group photo with sponsors and other dignitaries during the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival Presentation of Sponsorship Mock Cheques and press conference at Baitulmakmur II building, on Oct 1, 2026.

By Christine T

KUCHING, Oct 1: The International Dragon Boat Festival and Sarawak Regatta are set to bring 10 days of river sporting action to the Kuching waterfront from Oct 23 to Nov 1.

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the annual Sarawak Regatta remains one of the State’s major tourism highlights, with the International Dragon Boat Festival kicking off the programme before the Sarawak Regatta takes over the following weekend.

The festival will begin with the Eye-Dotting Ceremony and symbolic Paddle Presentation on Oct 23 at 3pm, to be officiated by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“This year, like in previous years, we have to limit the number of countries participating. There are just too many that want to participate.

“So we are limiting it to 22 countries, and seven of these are new countries participating for the first time,” he said during a press conference on the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2026 held at the Baitulmakmur II Building here today.

Among the participating countries are Abu Dhabi, Australia, Brunei, China, Chinese Taipei, Cyprus, Dubai, Thailand, the Philippines, Georgia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Qatar, Singapore and Malaysia with new participating countries this year include Liechtenstein, Vietnam, Cambodia, Argentina, Fiji, Moldova and Mexico.

The Sarawak International Dragon Boat Festival, now in its 12th edition, will take place from Oct 23 to 25, featuring 80 teams from 22 countries and about 2,450 participants.

The 12th Sarawak International Dragon Boat Festival will feature seven categories, namely International Premier Open 20’s, International Premier Open 12’s, International Premier Mixed 20’s, International Premier Women 12’s, International Senior Bs Open 12’s, International Cancer Survivors 12’s and Malaysia Closed Men 12’s.

Two new categories will be introduced this year — the Malaysia Closed Men 12’s and International Senior Bs Open 12’s, with the latter catering to participants aged 50 and above.

The total cash prize for the International Dragon Boat Festival has been doubled from RM100,000 last year to RM200,000 this year.

The Sarawak Regatta will then take place from Oct 30 to Nov 1, with the Raja Sungai (King of the River) race for the Sarawak’s Head of State (TYT) Cup serving as the highlight on Nov 1.

The final day will be witnessed by the Sarawak TYT Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, with Sarawak Premier also expected to attend.

The Sarawak Regatta will then take place from Oct 30 to Nov 1, with the Raja Sungai race for the TYT Cup serving as the highlight on Nov 1 (Sunday).

The final day will be witnessed by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajjah Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, with Premier Sarawak also expected to attend.

A total of 18 events will be contested under the Local and Open categories, comprising various Perahu Bidar and Perahu Kenyalang races involving local teams, government departments and agencies, government-linked companies, the private sector, higher education institutions and open competitors.

Among the Open category events are the 30-paddler Perahu Bidar race for the Borneo International Cup and the 3km International Marathon Perahu Bidar race.

Overall, 43 races comprising heats and finals will be held throughout the three-day Sarawak Regatta, with 13 heats scheduled on Oct 30, followed by 12 heats and three finals on Oct 31, before 15 finals on Nov 1.

The Raja Sungai winner in the Local category will receive a challenge trophy and RM30,000, while the total prize pool for the Sarawak Regatta stands at RM378,400, including trophies and cash prizes.

Safety jackets are mandatory for all races, with participants who fail to comply with the requirement facing disqualification.

Beyond the river sporting events, the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2026 will also feature evening activities and cultural performances throughout the 10-day programme.

The festival is supported by major corporate sponsors, with total contributions amounting to RM985,000.

Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) are Gold sponsors with RM300,000 each, while Sarawak Energy Berhad contributes RM100,000 as a Silver sponsor.

ENEOS Xplora Malaysia Limited, Sarawak Economic Development Corportation (SEDC), Petra Energy Berhad, Sarawak Plantation Berhad and Ta Ann Holdings Berhad each contribute RM50,000 as Bronze sponsors.

Additional co-sponsors include SARAworks Sdn Bhd with RM20,000, KTS Mutual Sdn Bhd with RM10,000 and Borneo Housing Mortgage Finance Berhad with RM5,000. — DayakDaily