The NUSTAR Dragon Boat Regatta 2026 is returning for its second year and now with a bigger vision for Cebu. During its press conference on July 29, 2026, NUSTAR Resort Cebu announced that this edition will gather 40 registered teams, in which 33 are local clubs while seven are international teams, and 1,358 paddlers for the three-day competition on September 18 to 20, nearly doubling last year’s participation.

We want to be a key partner in establishing Cebu as a premier destination for sports tourism.

— Sean Robert Knights

Chief Operating Officer, NUSTAR Resort Cebu

Organized as the culminating event of NUSTAR’s “In Full Balance” Wellness Month 2026 campaign, the regatta aims to position Cebu not only as a destination for leisure but also as a growing hub for world-class sports tourism, inclusive competition, and community engagement.

This year’s regatta will feature a 200-meter international-standard straight-course race across seven competitive divisions: Premier Open Standard Boat (DB22), Premier Mixed Standard Boat (DB22), Premier Women Small Boat (DB12), Premier Open Small Boat – Corporate (DB12), Senior-A Open Small Boat (DB12), 24U Open Small Boat (DB12), and Para-Dragon 1 Open Small Boat (DB12), highlighting the event’s commitment to providing opportunities for elite, corporate, youth, senior, and adaptive athletes alike.

The competition will once again follow international standards, with technical race management led by the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation and enhanced safety measures, including dedicated safety stations and coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard to maintain zero accidents throughout the event.

Supported by the Cebu City Government, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Department of Tourism, held in partnership with the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) and the Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS) Foundation, and sponsored by different corporate brands, the competition continues raise the standards of dragon boat racing in the country.

Building a stronger Cebuano sports tourism community

For NUSTAR, the Dragon Boat Regatta was never envisioned as simply another sporting event.

Chief Operating Officer Sean Robert Knights said that the inaugural regatta in 2025 became a celebration of teamwork, diversity, and community, welcoming paddlers from across the Philippines and overseas alongside their families and supporters.

This year, the resort hopes to expand that momentum by creating an even larger platform where athletic excellence, camaraderie, and inclusivity come together. “We want to be a key partner in establishing Cebu as a premier destination for sports tourism,” Knights said.

He emphasizes that events like the regatta generate opportunities beyond the racecourse by supporting local businesses, strengthening partnerships, and attracting visitors from different parts of the world.

NUSTAR Vice President for Business Development Katrina Mae De Jesus echoed this vision, explaining that the event grew from what was initially intended to be a small wellness activity into one of Cebu’s largest dragon boat competitions through strong collaboration with government agencies and sports organizations.

“We make use of our natural abundance, and dragon boat is one of the strongest sports here in Cebu. We want to play to that strength,” De Jesus shared.

She also mentioned that the registrations have already doubled this year, with increasing participation from international clubs as organizers who are working toward their vision of transforming the regatta into a future international competition.

A platform where sports, inclusion, and wellness move together

The organizers continue to anchor the regatta on the principles that shaped its inaugural edition: community ownership, environmental responsibility, athlete safety, and inclusivity.

One of the event’s defining partnerships remains with the Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS) Foundation, which serves as one of the regatta’s beneficiaries.

Through the continued inclusion of the Paradragon category, the competition highlights how dragon boat racing has empowered persons with disabilities, transforming participants from homebound individuals into internationally competitive athletes.

The Department of Tourism sees this as a model for the country’s broader sports tourism ambitions.

DOT Senior Tourism Operations Officer II Czarina Morandarte-Enabe said that the dragon boat racing represents the discipline, teamwork, and synchronization that define successful destinations and successful communities alike.

She emphasized that the regatta directly supports the Department’s goal of establishing the Philippines as a globally competitive sports tourism destination by attracting athletes, generating regional economic opportunities, creating sustainable livelihoods, and showcasing both the country’s natural assets and its capability to host world-class events.

For Cebu, whose coastline has long supported a thriving paddling community, the initiative aligns with broader aspirations to become a premier venue for aquatic sports, including future international competitions such as the 7th edition of the Asian Beach Games, which will be held in Cebu in 2028.

Through partnerships with government agencies, sports organizations, private companies, and community groups, the regatta demonstrates how sports can become a catalyst for tourism, environmental stewardship, inclusivity, and local economic growth.

When the paddles hit the water this September, they will not only propel boats toward the finish line, they will also carry Cebu another stroke closer to becoming one of Asia’s emerging destinations for sports tourism.

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