Stanley Main Beach | Shangri-La Group Presents the Shangri-La Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships, Proudly Presents 'Dragonbeat'

Description

The Shangri-La Group (hereinafter referred to as 'Shangri-La' or 'the Group') announces the launch of the new 'Dragonbeat' festival plan, reimagining the traditional Dragon Boat Festival with a modern lifestyle. As the title sponsor of the Shangri-La Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships for the next five years, the Group will curate a diverse festival experience in Stanley on 19 June 2026, incorporating sports, culture, cuisine, and entertainment. This includes the highly anticipated dragon boat races, the 'Shangri-La Taste of Hong Kong' food festival, and the inaugural 'Dragonbeat' DJ party, offering a comprehensive celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival through the Group's signature Asian hospitality.

To further enhance the excitement and cohesiveness of the festival, the Group has appointed Winter Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu as the 'Shangri-La Dragonbeat Ambassador'. She is also the freestyle skier with the most gold medals and medals in Winter Olympic history.

The 'Dragonbeat' festival plan reflects Shangri-La's vision of evolving its brand to be more lifestyle-centric. While continuing its long-standing commitment to promoting Asian traditional arts and culture, the Group is also breaking out of the traditional hotel business framework to create cultural experiences that bring people together. By uniting the strengths of its hotel teams and collaborating with local talents in the fields of art, fashion, cuisine, and music, Shangri-La aims to infuse new energy into Hong Kong's festive season and support the local creative community. The Group hopes to assist the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in establishing the city as an international events capital, offering more profound cultural experiences that attract travelers to extend their stay, explore more, and revisit Hong Kong.

Not only targeting Hong Kong citizens, 'Dragonbeat' also showcases the Group's Asian hospitality by welcoming travelers from all over the world during the Dragon Boat Festival. The celebration kicks off with intense dragon boat races during the day, and the festive atmosphere continues from dusk till dawn. To enhance the festival vibe, the Shangri-La Group will set up a four-meter-tall giant inflatable dragon art installation at Stanley Main Beach, creating a captivating seaside photo hotspot for citizens and travelers. As one of the largest outdoor inflatable dragon installations in Hong Kong, it symbolizes strength, auspiciousness, and the enduring spirit of the Dragon Boat Festival. After dark, the installation transforms into a dazzling light art piece, illuminating the coastline with a dreamlike glow, seamlessly connecting the energetic dragon boat races during the day with the grand evening celebration.

From the Dragon Boat Race Course to Dusk: A New Festival Experience in Stanley

Event Name: Dragonbeat

Date: 19 June 2026 (Friday)

Venue: Stanley Main Beach

Time: 8:00 am - 7:30 pm

'Dragonbeat' presents three main experiences centered around the Shangri-La Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships:

Shangri-La Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships

Time: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm | Venue: Stanley Main Beach | Free Admission

This event is an annual highlight for Hong Kong's sports community, expected to attract over 180 dragon boat teams and thousands of athletes.

'Shangri-La Taste of Hong Kong' Food Festival

Time: 9:00 am - 7:30 pm | Venue: Hong Kong Sailing School Football Pitch | Free Admission

A culinary zone curated by the Shangri-La culinary team in collaboration with local food elites, featuring a selection of Hong Kong's authentic delicacies, international cuisines, and refreshing beverages, allowing visitors to embark on a journey through the city's diverse food culture.

Dragonbeat DJ Party (First-ever during Dragon Boat Festival)

Time: After the races (approx. 4:30 pm) - 7:30 pm | Venue: Stanley Main Beach | Free Admission (limited capacity)

This beach extravaganza will feature performances by popular DJs, including FABSBS b2b STEFFUNN (CANTOMANIA), TOM YETI b2b DJ FERGUS (YETI OUT), and ALEX NUDE b2b COCOA (HE.R Soundsystem). Infusing Stanley's Dragon Boat Festival with a fresh vibe, the celebration will extend the festive cheer from morning to dusk and well into the evening.

As part of the Group's sustainability efforts, a water refill station will be set up on-site to encourage dragon boat participants and attendees to bring their own reusable water bottles, reducing the use of disposable plastic.

Crossover Collaboration: Transforming Tradition into Contemporary Culture, Partnering with Trendy Brand Grocery for 'Dragonbeat' Limited-Edition Merchandise

'Dragonbeat' collaborates with local creative talents to infuse new vitality into traditional festivals, including Hong Kong designer and sign painter Jim Lee (Li Jinshan) and local lifestyle brand Grocery. Jim Lee's 'Dragonbeat' logo features a bold ink brushstroke interpretation of a traditional dragon, conveying vitality, strength, and auspiciousness. His artwork also extends to 12 dragon boat body art stickers, transforming the waters off Stanley Main Beach into a floating outdoor art gallery. The collaboration with Grocery introduces a 'Dragonbeat' limited-edition capsule collection, including washed T-shirts and canvas bags, which are sure to be the most sought-after items at the event, carrying the festival spirit into everyday life.

The 'Dragonbeat' limited-edition capsule collection is now available for pre-order on the Shangri-La Boutique website and will be officially released at the 'Dragonbeat' event in Stanley and GROCERY stores. The Shangri-La Boutique website is https://boutique.shangri-la.com/index.php.