Fate of next year's Vancouver dragon boat festival in doubt due to FIFA World Cup, organizers say

The organizers of the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver say it appears next year's races will be cancelled because of rules surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Dominic Lai of Dragon Boat B.C. says Vancouver's host city agreement with FIFA prohibits cultural and sporting events in the city within a certain time frame and restricts events within a certain radius of B.C. Place, which is set to host seven World Cup matches between June 13 and July 7. 

The event, which organizers describe as North America's largest dragon boat festival, takes place in False Creek, a short distance from B.C. Place, usually around the summer solstice. 

"We tried to come up with alternate solutions, and we presented these solutions to the city and the province," Lai said. "But ultimately, we still haven't got any confirmation of any type of support for it, and we're in a tough place."

Lai says organizers are working with the city and province in search of a solution, but as it stands, they face a financial deficit.

The City of Vancouver says it is collaborating with organizers of sporting and cultural events taking place between June 4 and July 14 "to ensure that events don't conflict geographically, and that there are sufficient City resources to support a safe environment for all to enjoy."   

The city also said it is working with event organizers and FIFA to minimize impacts, and it expects "most annual events to proceed in some form, though some may see adjustments in timing, location or scale." 

A statement from B.C.'s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture says the province "is aware that this event is impacted by the World Cup and understands that major events can create challenges for communities — sometimes requiring established events to change timing or location, and we appreciate how difficult those adjustments can be."

Lai says adjustments mean Dragon Boat B.C. faces a financial deficit, and poses existential questions.

"FIFA is a behemoth. It will do what it does. It's the world's largest sporting event for a reason, and they have a standard of excellence they need to deliver on," he said.

"We understand that. We are not trying to get in the way. We just want to make sure that we can continue to exist to serve our community after FIFA leaves."