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Get ready, WA — the state’s most spectacular Chinese New Year waterfront festival is almost here!The internationally acclaimed Western Australian Dragon Boat Festival returns to Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour on Sunday 8 March 2026, bringing an explosive fusion of high-speed racing, cultural brilliance and the full power of Chinese New Year in the dynamic Year of the Fire Horse. From the moment the programme launches at 10.00am, the harbour surges to life as elite crews from across Western Australia catapult down the racecourse. Drums shake the shoreline, paddles carve the water with precision and the entire waterfront transforms into an arena of pure adrenaline and colour.
But the racing is just the beginning. Fremantle’s iconic waterfront becomes a vibrant, all-out Chinese New Year celebration filled with movement, music and tradition. Dragon and Lion dancers sweep through Mews Park and roar across Bathers Beach, firecrackers crackle through the air and traditional blessings fill the precinct with powerful symbolism. Every corner bursts with rhythm, drumming and storytelling, creating an atmosphere that blends ancient heritage with the city’s unmistakable coastal energy.
Elevating the festival’s cultural heartbeat with extraordinary impact, the event will open with a powerful ancient Smoking Ceremony, welcoming visitors onto Country with deep respect and grounding the entire celebration in the spirit of connection and cultural unity. This profound moment sets an unforgettable tone for the day, honouring the land, its people and the significance of coming together on the waterfront.
The celebrations then rise to an extraordinary level with a special appearance by the world-renowned Wadumbah Dance Group, whose breathtaking traditional Noongar dance and storytelling will electrify the crowd. Their commanding presence, dynamic choreography and rich cultural expression bring an extraordinary First Nations dimension to the festival, weaving ancient Australian heritage into the global tapestry of Chinese New Year. Their performance promises to be one of the most powerful and visually stunning moments of the entire event, captivating audiences from beginning to end.
At the heart of the cultural celebration, Yaolin seventh-generation Kung Fu Master Sifu Ken Wu commands the stage with a world-class showcase of Dragon and Lion Dancing, ceremonial drumming and extraordinary martial artistry. His dynamic performances bring centuries of Chinese tradition to life against the sparkling harbour backdrop, delivering unforgettable moments for audiences of all ages.
The festival weekend opens in breathtaking style on Saturday night with the spectacular Long Table Dinner along the water’s edge. As lanterns shimmer over the harbour and twilight settles across the coastline, guests gather for an exquisite multi-course feast featuring premium Western Australian seafood and refined Lunar New Year delicacies symbolising longevity, prosperity and good fortune. With live cultural performances unfolding under the lantern glow, the evening becomes one of Fremantle’s most magical nights of the year.
Throughout the entire weekend, Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour pulses with excitement. Racing drums echo across the jetties, gongs ring through the boardwalks, lanterns shimmer above the water and the whole precinct becomes a living celebration of culture, sport and community. With panoramic viewing points, outstanding hospitality venues and endless festival energy, every moment offers something extraordinary to experience.
Proudly presented by the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour Traders Group and Nella Fitzgerald Events, in partnership with the City of Fremantle and in association with Dragon Boating WA Inc., this world-class festival captures the imagination, ignites the senses and brings people together in an unforgettable celebration on the water.
Join us with your family and friends to celebrate Chinese New Year in a festival bursting with fun, excitement and unforgettable moments, as the waterfront comes alive with racing thrills, dazzling performances and nonstop festival energy. It’s Chinese New Year like you’ve never experienced it before.
We look forward to welcoming you!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, Mews Rd,Fremantle,WA,Australia
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
