Kaohsiung Creative Raft Building Competition 2026 Launches on September 5–6 at Dagang Bridge – Artisan Division Introduced with Up to NT$10,000 Subsidy

The 4th '2026 Kaohsiung Creative Raft Building Competition,' hosted by the Kaohsiung City Sports Development Bureau, has officially opened registration and will take place on September 5–6 at Dagang Plaza in front of Dagang Warehouse and beside Dagang Bridge. This year introduces a new 'Artisan Division' for the first time, with selected teams receiving a NT$10,000 production subsidy upon completing their raft. General teams also receive a NT$4,000 participation subsidy, with around 100 teams expected to compete for a total prize pool of NT$100,000.

The Sports Development Bureau stated that the event supports the 'Return the River to the People' policy, promoting water sports and summer water safety education. Through this creative competition, the city aims to encourage public engagement with the ocean and awareness of aquatic environments, creating a marine sports festival combining education and entertainment.

Bureau Director Hou Tsun-Yao highlighted that the biggest innovation this year is the introduction of the 10-team 'Artisan Division,' which uses a blueprint submission system. Entries will undergo written review by judges assessing design concepts and drawing completeness. Selected teams will receive the NT$10,000 subsidy upon completing their raft, encouraging more creative and design-capable teams to participate.

He also emphasized that participants are encouraged to go beyond traditional materials like bamboo and plastic barrels, using more diverse eco-friendly materials and innovative shapes to create unique rafts. This year’s competition theme centers on Kaohsiung’s local food culture, including fruits, shaved ice, and street snacks, promising a vibrant display of eye-catching rafts at Dagang Bridge, combining creativity and speed in exciting races.

In response to net-zero and sustainability trends, this year’s scoring criteria have been adjusted: environmental concept and creative design each account for 35%, while race performance makes up 30%. A new online-voted 'Popularity Award' has been added to encourage teams to integrate sustainability into their designs, raising public awareness of environmental protection and water safety.

The 'Kaohsiung Creative Raft Building Competition' is part of Kaohsiung’s 'Marine Party' series of branded events and is free to enter. Artisan Division applications close on August 21 and require blueprint submission; general team registration remains open until August 28. Teams from across Taiwan are invited to join, unleash their creativity, and enjoy the fun of water-based competition.