The IDBF is an international non-governmental, non-profit world organization for dragon boating and other paddle sport activities.

WIth the objects of encouraging the development of the sport of Dragon Boat Racing and of maintaining its Asian cultural, historical and religious traditions and of strengthening the bonds of friendship that unite those who practice it, the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) was founded on June 24th, 1991 in Hong Kong by the Governing Associations of Australia, the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, the Republic of Phillippines, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.​

The IDBF is recognized by the Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF), formerly SportAccord, as the Full Member International Sports Federation (IF) specifically governing dragon boating on a world-wide basis.