Dragon Boat World Cup 2025: Brandenburg will be a pulsating spectacle!

Dragon Boat World Cup 2025: Brandenburg will be a pulsating spectacle!

Brandenburg an der Havel is celebrating a real mega event! The 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships will take place from July 14th to 20th, 2025 and the anticipation in the city is huge. More than 4,600 participants from 33 countries are expected, including around 3,500 active participants, 500 juniors and 700 supporters, who will compete on the Beetzsee regatta course. Michael Kenzler, the second chairman of the Brandenburg Beetzsee e.V. regatta team, highlights the close cooperation with the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) and the German Dragon Boat Association and emphasizes that the participants will fight for titles and medals in two boat classes, with Para categories and BCP teams also taking part.

A very special focus is on the total of 161 decisions that are planned in the World Cup program. There will be competition in seven age groups, including the famous Standard and High Performance Racing Small Boats. The largest team comes from Canada with an impressive 850 participants, followed by national teams from Australia (334) and China (307). The German delegation will be represented by 436 athletes. The event is a real highlight in the city's event calendar and promises to make the most of Brandenburg's potential.

A celebration for the city center

Accompanied by colorful festivals in the city center, the shop operators are looking forward to numerous international guests. To increase anticipation, there are specially designed posters that can also be used for decoration in the shops. Rick Heisterhagen from Havel Space and his friends welcomed the US team, which represents the largest delegation, with a US flag. Elisabeth and Hans-Peter Zahn in the Dürerhaus focus on Norway, while Blumen Hampel spreads the Australian flair with koala “Benny”.

The city center retailers agree: more lead time and support is needed from the organizers and the city in order to use the event's full potential. This should not only create a win-win situation for the catering and hotel industries, but also offer locals and guests the opportunity to exchange ideas and network. Stefanie Grubert from Trattoria del Corso expresses concern about the lack of appreciation for the event and calls for a common “regulars’ table” with those responsible.

A success for the region

The organizational team, led by Ute Becker-Frenzel, President of the DDV, promises an unforgettable experience for everyone who comes to the championships. Mayor Steffen Scheller and Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke have already pledged their support. The technical and logistical basis at Beetzsee is highlighted as excellent, which ensures that everything runs smoothly.

The first races start on July 14th at 12 p.m. and the opening event takes place the same day at 6 p.m. Competitions are scheduled daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and the grand closing ceremony will be celebrated on July 20 at around 7 p.m. The combination of sporting competition and festive atmosphere can only be a great success.

The city of Brandenburg has the chance to shine in the light of international participants - an opportunity that should not be missed. It will be exciting to see how the city center reacts to the wave of international dragon boaters and their fans. Let's see what's next!

Further information is available on the websites: Meeting point Brandenburg, Brandenburg regattas and World Dragon Boat Championships 2025.