The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) has officially confirmed Hualien as the host city of the 15th IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in 2026, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) led by IDBF President Claudio Schermi.
The signing ceremony marked a major milestone in the global dragon boating calendar, formalizing the commitment to deliver a world-class event and inaugurating the Organizing Committee tasked with its successful delivery.
President Schermi was joined by Secretary General Peter Tang, Marketing & Media Chair Belinda Chung, and Competition & Technical Commission Chair Jason Chen in representing the IDBF. Dignitaries attending from Taiwan included Ms. Hsu Chen-Wei, Mayor of Hualien County; Mr. Fu Kun-Chi, Member of Parliament; Mr. Cheng Shih-Chung, Deputy Minister of Sport; and Mr. Wang Chin-Te, Chairman of the Chinese Taipei Dragon Boat Association (CTDBA).
The Championships are expected to attract over 6,000 paddlers representing clubs from across all continents, with competition categories ranging from youth and university divisions to senior and para-athlete crews.
“This MoU marks a decisive milestone for our Federation and our worldwide community,” said President Schermi. “Hualien has demonstrated vision and commitment to delivering a safe, world-class Championship that will strengthen international connections and promote the true values of dragon boating — teamwork, respect, and friendship.”
As directed by the IDBF President, the 2025 Hualien Pacific International Dragon Boat Festival will serve as the official test event, validating all operational, technical, and athlete-related services to ensure full readiness for 2026.
President Schermi expressed his sincere appreciation for the strong partnership with Hualien and the many experts and volunteers already contributing to the preparations.
With anticipation building across the global paddling community, the 2026 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Hualien are poised to unite athletes, officials, and fans in a celebration of sport, culture, and friendship on the world stage.
