Historic First! 2026 IDBF Club Crew World Championships to Be Held in Hualien
Through the joint efforts of the Hualien County Government, the Chinese Taipei Dragon Boat Association, and the Sports Administration of the Ministry of Education, Taiwan has successfully secured the hosting rights for the 2026 IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC)!
The bidding meeting for the Championships was held today (14th) in Pattaya, Thailand. The Hualien delegation, led by Acting Director of the Department of Education Mr. Weng Shu-Min, together with Mr. Wang Jin-De, President of the Chinese Taipei Dragon Boat Association, and Coach Hou Hong-Chang of Hualien Physical Education High School, presented the bid. Competing against Macau, which also brought extensive event-hosting experience, Taiwan ultimately won the confidence of the IDBF members with a vote of 24 to 19, proudly claiming the hosting rights.
This marks not only Hualien’s, but also Taiwan’s first time hosting the world’s top-level dragon boat competition, setting a new milestone for the local and national sporting community while highlighting Hualien’s growing presence on the global sports stage. The 2026 Club Crew World Championships are tentatively scheduled to take place in early September at Liyu Lake, with approximately 8,000 participants from 30 countries expected to compete. The Hualien County Government has pledged its full commitment to preparing for the event and to providing an unforgettable experience for all visiting teams.
Hualien County Mayor Ms. Hsu Chen-Wei stated that hosting this international championship in Hualien will allow athletes from around the world to experience Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage and dynamic sporting spirit while appreciating the natural beauty of Hualien. At the same time, it offers Taiwan’s own athletes the opportunity to compete on home soil, striving for excellence and aiming to keep the medals right here in Taiwan.
