From 30 to 31 May 2026, the 9th Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival was held at Islands Brygge in Copenhagen. As the largest dragon boat cultural event in the Nordic region, the festival has grown into one of the most prominent annual celebrations of Chinese culture in Denmark since its inception. Featuring dragon boat racing alongside cultural exhibitions, culinary showcases and interactive activities, the event attracted a large audience of local residents, international visitors, and representatives from Chinese and Danish cultural institutions.
The opening ceremony was held on 30 May. Among those attending were Wang Xuefeng, Chinese Ambassador to Denmark; Jens-Kristian Lütken, Mayor of Health and Care of the City of Copenhagen; Kong Zheng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; Mu Xianghong, Director of China Cultural Center in Copenhagen; as well as representatives from Danish political and business circles, overseas Chinese communities, and other guests from China and Denmark.
At the opening ceremony, the distinguished guests delivered remarks. This was followed by a series of traditional opening activities, including the lion eye-dotting ceremony, the dragon boat eye-dotting ceremony, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a dragon dance performance, officially marking the opening of the festival.
During the event, invited guests jointly recited The Teapot, a fairy tale by renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, in both Chinese and Danish. The bilingual reading, presented as a literary exchange activity, highlighted cultural dialogue and mutual appreciation between China and Denmark, drawing the attention of many visitors.
As one of the supporting organizations of the festival, China Cultural Center in Copenhagen organized a series of cultural exhibitions and exchange activities. During the festival, the cultural and tourism promotion event “Explore Ningxia with the World Heritage Site” was jointly presented by China Cultural Center in Copenhagen and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Through a thematic photo exhibition, promotional videos, tourism publications, destination presentations, and interactive activities, the event introduced Chinese culture as well as Ningxia’s distinctive cultural and tourism resources to local audiences.
During the festival, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region presented a variety of regionally distinctive performances, including traditional songs, dances, and folk instrumental music. The delegation also showcased representative intangible cultural heritage items such as Ningxia paper-cutting and hemp weaving, along with related cultural and creative products, at the cultural exhibition area. The displays offered visitors an opportunity to experience Ningxia’s rich cultural heritage and folk traditions, attracting considerable interest from local audiences.
On 31 May, the dragon boat races officially took place, with teams from Denmark and other countries and regions competing on the water. China Cultural Center in Copenhagen also fielded a dragon boat team composed of its staff members and Chinese and international volunteers, who participated alongside the other competing teams.
In addition, China Cultural Center in Copenhagen provided a racing dragon boat for this year’s festival. During the competition, a team competing in the boat delivered a strong performance and ultimately secured third place.
Since its inception, the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival has served as an important platform for the Danish public to learn about Chinese traditional culture and festive customs. Through dragon boat racing, cultural exhibitions, intangible cultural heritage showcases, and interactive activities, this year’s festival offered visitors a closer look at Chinese culture while providing opportunities for cultural exchange between China and Denmark.
