PANDA CUP CELEBRATES CULTURE, UNITY, AND FRIENDSHIP AT 2026 TIM HORTONS OTTAWA DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Friday, February 20, 2026

TheTim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is excited to welcome back the Panda Cup, a signature cultural highlight presented by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China.

Taking place on Saturday morning, June 20, at scenic Mooney’s Bay, the Panda Cup is a spirited competition that celebrates Chinese cultural heritage while promoting the enduring values of unity, cooperation, and friendship between communities and nations. Teams will face-off in local and out-of-town divisions. This vibrant event will begin with an energetic performance by traditional Chinese drummers, echoing the historical roots of the Dragon Boat Festival and setting an electrifying tone for the race to follow.

The Panda Cup will feature teams composed of members from Ottawa’s Chinese-Canadian community as well as representatives from the diplomatic corps, symbolizing cross-cultural partnership and mutual respect. Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is thrilled to be hosting the Liaocheng University Dragon Boat Team. At the 2025 World Dragon Boat Championships in Germany, the team achieved a historic feat by winning all 11 races in the U24 category and sweeping 11 gold medals, completing a Grand Slam in the U24 division and setting a new record for the Chinese delegation. The team is flying into Ottawa from central China on Wednesday June 17 to begin two days of training and will then participate in the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival Panda Cup. 

“We are honoured to welcome the Liaocheng University Dragon Boat Team to Ottawa and to the Panda Cup,” said John Brooman, CEO of the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. “Their extraordinary achievement at the World Dragon Boat Championships demonstrates the highest level of excellence in our sport. Having one of the world's premier dragon boat teams racing at Mooney’s Bay is a tremendous opportunity for our athletes, spectators, and community. They will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the festival and a thrilling team to watch on the water.”

As the sports flagship festival, events like the Panda Cup reinforce its commitment to inclusivity and cultural appreciation, featuring world-class racing and a weekend of unforgettable waterfront excitement.