04/20/26 Press Release
- Apr 20
- 6 min read
PUBLIC INVITED TO THE 26TH ANNUAL AUSTIN DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 25 WITH A RECORD-BREAKING 26 DRAGON BOAT TEAMS COMPETING AT FESTIVAL BEACH AT LADY BIRD LAKE
Produced by The Lunar Foundation, Austin’s longest-running Asian American cultural event explores Asian American Pacific Islander cultural heritage; Highlights include a traditional Chinese zongzi activation with proceeds benefitting the Central Texas Food Bank, a live-painted dragon boat auction by viral YouTube artist ZHC, activities and musical performances and more
(AUSTIN, TEXAS — April 20, 2026; source: Juice Consulting) — The Austin Dragon Boat Festival, an annual cultural tradition honoring the ancient sport of dragon boating, is gearing up for the 26th edition, Saturday, April 25, kicking off at 10 a.m. at Festival Beach, Lady Bird Lake (1621 Nash Hernandez Senior Rd, Austin, TX 78702). Founded by Amy Wong Mok and the Asian American Cultural Center, this year’s event produced by Central Texas nonprofit The Lunar Foundation will feature 26 dragon boat teams, the most in the festival's 26-year history, with over 500 paddlers hitting the water and competing in this historic moment. In addition to the race, the festival will promote Asian American Pacific Islander heritage with programming including the "Fold for Good" zongzi activation led by Chef Uyen Pham, with 100% of proceeds going to Central Texas Food Bank; YouTube artist ZHC (29.3M subscribers, Forbes 30 Under 30) live-painting a 40-foot dragon boat, with an opening auction bid of $25,000 benefiting future Austin Dragon Boat Festivals; and cultural performances from several dance teams and music troupes, including Austin Taiko, the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team and the Austin Filipino Cultural Dance Troupe. The Austin Dragon Boat Festival is a free, public event, open to all ages, with no admission fee for spectators. For more information on the Austin Dragon Boat Festival, see here.
In addition to an anticipated 3,000+ attendees, the Festival will also be hosting the U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Mayor Kirk Watson, and several City Council Members who will participate in festival ceremonies, including the traditional eye-dotting ceremony. Celebrity photographer Peter Yang (Rolling Stone, TIME, Vanity Fair) confirmed to shoot the festival editorially. Hotel partnerships with Fairmont Austin, Holiday Inn Town Lake, and Comfort Suites are available for out-of-town visitors.
This year will feature cultural performances from Austin Taiko, Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team, Austin Filipino Cultural Dance Troupe, Summit Lion-Dragon Dance Team, Austin Folk Dance & Music Group, UriKarak Dance Group, Kathak Rhythms and SIPM, and Lilly Hosanna Dance. Food vendors will include Happy Lemon at The Linc, Junbi Matcha, Kessho, Red Dragon Bao, Si Baby-Q and TLF Zongzi & Beverages - additionally, there will be a showcase of zongzi, a Chinese dish traditionally eaten during Dragon Boat Festivals, and part of the festival’s origin. Further programming includes brand activations from Topo Chico, Central Health, H-E-B Kids Activity, Munchie Pals, Sendero Health Plans and Texas State Parks.
“26 years of dragon boats on Lady Bird Lake, and this is the year it all comes together,” said Andrew Lee, Executive Director, The Lunar Foundation. “The energy from our teams, our performers, and this community has been unlike anything I've experienced. We can't wait to share it with Austin on April 25.”
See below for the official programming schedule:
OPENING CEREMONIES
10 a.m. — Opening Ceremony (Main Stage)
The festival kicks off with a welcome to paddlers, performers, families, and the Austin community. A city proclamation honors the Austin Dragon Boat Festival and its 26-year legacy on Lady Bird Lake.
10:15 a.m. — Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team Performance (Main Stage)
10:30 a.m. — Eye Dotting Ceremony (Boat Dock)
The Eye Dotting Ceremony is one of dragon boating’s oldest traditions, rooted in over 2,000 years of history. A dignitary or honored guest paints the eyes of the dragon boats, symbolically awakening the dragons and giving them the spirit and sight to race. This ceremony connects our festival to the deep cultural heritage of dragon boat racing around the world and stands as a blessing over the day’s competition.
10:45 a.m. — Cultural Performances (Main Stage)
12 p.m. — Drum Circle of the Dragon Spirit Ceremony honoring Breast Cancer Survivors (Boat Dock)
The Drum Circle of the Dragon Spirit is a unifying and healing experience that honors breast cancer and all cancer thrivers, while remembering and celebrating the lives of those we have lost. Through the shared rhythm of the drum, we create a space of strength, reflection, and community—amplifying hope, resilience, and the enduring spirit that connects us all.
12:30 p.m. — Cultural Performances (Main Stage)
3 p.m. — Summit Lion-Dragon Dance Team (Main Stage)
3:30 p.m. — Lone Star Dragons World Championships Send-Off (Main Stage)
Before the awards are announced, the festival hosts a special send-off for the Lone Star Dragons, Texas’s elite dragon boat team heading to the 15th IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Taiwan. Made up of top paddlers from Austin, Houston, and across the state, the Lone Star Dragons earned their place on the world stage after winning the 2023 U.S. Dragon Boat Federation National Championship and competing at the 2024 World Championships in Italy. Representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston (TECO-Houston) will be on hand to receive the team as they prepare to represent Texas and the United States internationally. Join us in cheering them on.
3:40 p.m. — Race Awards Ceremony (Main Stage)
The day closes with recognition of the top teams across all divisions. Awards celebrate not only speed on the water, but the teamwork, sportsmanship, and community spirit that define the Austin Dragon Boat Festival.
4 p.m. — Festival Ends
The Austin Dragon Boat Festival is one of Central Texas’s longest-running cultural celebrations, uniting hundreds of paddlers, performers, and families each spring. Established by Amy Wong Mok, Founder & CEO of the Asian American Cultural Center and the President of the Asian American Community Partnership, in 1999, the festival honors the ancient sport of dragon boating while showcasing Austin’s diverse Asian and Pacific Islander heritage.
"Amy Wong Mok built something extraordinary over 25 years, and we don't take that responsibility lightly,” said Andrew Lee, Executive Director, The Lunar Foundation. “The Austin Dragon Boat Festival has become one of this city's most meaningful cultural traditions, bringing together thousands of paddlers, families, and visitors every spring. As The Lunar Foundation steps into stewardship of this event, we're committed to honoring that legacy while expanding what's possible for AANHPI artists and communities across Central Texas."
The Austin Dragon Boat Festival is one of Austin’s longest-running Asian American cultural events and has been recognized by the City of Austin through proclamations in many prior years - with official Dragon Boat Festival Days occurring from 2015 - 2018. Organizations that have participated - or will be participating again - in the festival include H-E-B, Bank of America, Bazaarvoice, EMBREY, NXP, Tokyo Electron, Visa Asians Standing Together, and more. Community teams this year include ATX Hongkongers, Austin C Dragon Team, Cyber Dragons and Cyber Dragons 2, while club teams include CATCH 22 PNW, DUC Pink and Island Warriors. BLIND FURY (Lighthouse of Houston) and Wildcats (Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired) round out the competition as student entries.
This year, the festival will host a special send-off celebration for the Lone Star Dragons, Texas’s elite dragon boat team that recently qualified for the 15th IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Taiwan. The team, composed of top paddlers from Austin, Houston, and Dallas, earned their spot after qualifying in the 2025 USDBF Club Crew National Championships. The Austin Dragon Boat Festival has also announced that they are now a member of the American Dragon Boat Association, with inclusion in their 2026 Midwest/Mountain dragon boat festival schedule.
This 2026 festival marks the first year under stewardship of The Lunar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting AANHPI artists and cultural initiatives in Central Texas. This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. Keep up with updates on the Festival here.
ABOUT THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL:
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, originating from the legend of Qu Yuan, a beloved scholar of the people and a minister to the King of Chu, who was eventually exiled by the king. Qu Yuan jumped into the Mi Luo River in protest of the corruption of the era, and although citizens’ efforts to get into boats and race to save him were unsuccessful, they hoped to scare away the fish and evil spirits by beating drums, splashing the water with paddles and throwing rice wrapped in leaves (later known as zongzi) into the water to feed the fish so that they would stay away from Qu Yuan’s body; this idea would be the origin of the sport of dragon boating (dragons being the river gods in Chinese culture). Today, the festival is celebrated around the world with races as well as the eating of zongzi, and boats adorned with a dragon head and tail - with each race always beginning with a dotting of the eye ceremony, symbolizing the awakening of the dragon.
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MEDIA NOTE:
For press requests or general inquiries, please contact the team at Juice Consulting:
Tyler Ostby
210 854 9119
Madison Snelling
210 213 8934