Austin Dragon Boat Festival

The Austin Dragon Boat Festival is one of Central Texas’s longest-running cultural celebrations, uniting hundreds of paddlers, performers, and families each spring. The festival honors the ancient sport of dragon boating while showcasing Austin’s diverse Asian and Pacific Islander heritage. The 26th annual Austin Dragon Boat Festival, will take place April 25, 2026 at Festival Beach, Lady Bird Lake and is a free, public event and open to all ages. With 20 teams, 400 paddlers and 3,000 attendees, the festival welcomes fans and competitors from all over the world. Highlights include: Live Art by ZHC: Watch world-renowned visual artist Zachary Hsieh (ZHC) complete a live finishing session on a custom-painted 40-foot dragon boat, which will be auctioned off to benefit the festival. Cultural Performances: Enjoy traditional music and dance from Austin Taiko, the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team, Austin Folk Dance and Music, the Austin Filipino Cultural Dance Troupe and more Food & Drinks: Local favorites including Red Dragon Bao, Happy Lemon, and Kessho. Brand Activations: Special onsite experiences from H-E-B and Coca-Cola. This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.