Paddington Water Festival: Rubber Duck Race and Dragon Boat Race 2026
This summer, an exciting charity event will take place on Regent's Canal in Paddington, where up to 3,000 rubber ducks will be launched for the annual rubber duck race. The event, now in its 19th year, aims to raise funds for the local charity Cosmic (Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care) by allowing the public to sponsor a duck. Each duck is assigned a number and released into Paddington Basin from the St Mary's footbridge above at 12pm. The first duck to reach the finish line after bobbing 100 meters will be declared the winner. Participants have the chance to win prizes such as a pair of Eurostar tickets to a destination of their choice by sponsoring a duck for £4 on the Cosmic website.
Following the rubber duck race, the day's main event is the dragon boat race, where up to 22 teams, each comprising 16 rowers and a drummer, compete in traditional Chinese dragon boats over a 100m course in Paddington Basin. The teams race head-to-head, vying for the title of the fastest team and the 'Best Dressed' prize, awarded to the crew with the most creative fancy dress costumes. Past events have seen participants dressed as pirates, drag queens, and Minions, adding a fun and colorful element to the race.
The Rubber Duck Race is scheduled for 12pm-2pm, followed by the Dragon Boat Race from 5pm-9pm on Thursday, 30 July 2026. Both events are free to watch, with no booking required. However, donations to the charity are encouraged to support the cause. Don't miss out on this exciting day of water-based competitions and entertainment in Paddington. Join us for a day of fun and fundraising for a good cause!