The UK has a vibrant and exciting whitewater kayaking events scene, but sometimes it’s hard to find details on everything! I will try to keep this page up to date with as many events as I can. If you want your event to be added, get in touch.
Upcoming events
Moriston Enduro 2026
22nd August 2026 — River Moriston, Scotland
The Moriston Enduro is one of the most demanding events in the Scottish whitewater racing calendar. Paddlers take on a three-hour endurance race on the River Moriston, testing their speed, stamina and determination on one of Scotland’s classic release rivers.
Wet West Paddlefest 2026
4th–6th September 2026 — Fort William and the West Highlands, Scotland
Wet West Paddlefest is back for a weekend of wonderful Scottish whitewater, dam releases and time with the paddling community. The event is based around Fort William and brings paddlers together to enjoy some of the best rivers in the West Highlands.
Nottingham Summer Rodeo 2026
5th–6th September 2026 — Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham
The event many paddlers will know as Euro Open has a new name for 2026: Nottingham Summer Rodeo! It is still a fun-filled weekend of freestyle, racing and the kind of silliness that makes this event so special.
The weekend includes novice and intermediate rodeo, the British Freestyle Championships, boater cross, a mass start race, inflatable racing and freestyle, Duo Jam, squirt, raft racing and Half Slice Heaven. There is also a Saturday night party, with the River Legacy bar at Nottingham Rugby Club.
Youth Freestyle Series: Canolfan Tryweryn
13th September 2026 — River Tryweryn, Bala, North Wales
The final round of the 2026 Youth Freestyle Series takes place at Canolfan Tryweryn. It is aimed at paddlers under 18 and combines coaching from some of the UK’s best freestyle paddlers with a friendly jam-style competition. You do not need a list of fancy tricks to join in; some grade 2 experience and enthusiasm are enough!
Scottish Women’s Paddle Symposium 2026
2nd–4th October 2026 — Roam West, Fort William, Scotland
The Scottish Women’s Paddle Symposium is a weekend of coaching, development and social paddling run by women, for women. It covers several paddling disciplines, with workshops designed to help paddlers try something new, build confidence and spend time with a supportive community.
More details about the Scottish Women’s Paddle Symposium
Paddle Out 2026
3rd–4th October 2026 — Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig, North Wales
Paddle Out is a brand-new paddlesport festival bringing the LGBTQI+ community together on the water. It is open both to established paddlers and people who are curious to give paddling a try, with more programme details due from Plas y Brenin and Paddle Cymru.
Tyne Tour 2026
7th–8th November 2026 — River North Tyne, Hexham
The Tyne Tour returns for 2026! This long-running autumn event brings paddlers together on the North Tyne for a weekend of whitewater, racing and socialising. It is a lovely opportunity to catch up with the paddling community towards the end of the year, although river levels and conditions will always play their part.
#ShePaddles White Water Festival 2026
Dates to be confirmed — Canolfan Tryweryn, Bala, North Wales
Canolfan Tryweryn is planning another female-focused #ShePaddles White Water Festival later in 2026, although the dates have not yet been confirmed. The weekend is expected to include coaching, guided paddling, confidence building and plenty of time to connect with other women who love whitewater.
Check for #ShePaddles date and ticket updates
Earlier in 2026
The following events have now finished, but I have kept them here as part of the full 2026 UK whitewater calendar.
Lee Valley Legacy Project
14th March 2026 — Lee Valley White Water Centre
The first Lee Valley Legacy Project combined an accessible introduction to moving-water racing with a Wild Water Racing competition. Boats were available to borrow and the event was designed to help paddlers start with a craft they knew before trying something different.
Read more about the Lee Valley Legacy Project
North Esk River Race 2026
12th April 2026 — River North Esk, Scotland
The North Esk Race opened the Scottish whitewater racing season with intermediate, advanced and endurance categories. It is a long-running event organised by the university paddling community and a great early-season date for Scottish river racers.
Find Scottish whitewater updates through Paddle Scotland
DeeFest 2026
25th–26th April 2026 — River Dee, Llangollen, North Wales
DeeFest brought paddlers back to Llangollen for an inclusive weekend of whitewater, fun races and time with friends. Events ran along the River Dee, with the main event hub at Mile End Mill and the usual DeeFest party atmosphere off the water too.
CIWW Paddlefest 2026
3rd May 2026 — Cardiff International White Water
Paddlefest returned to Cardiff for a full day of paddling, park and play sessions, racing, demonstrations, live music and trade stands. As always, it brought together complete beginners, experienced whitewater paddlers and plenty of people who simply wanted to enjoy a brilliant day beside the course.
More details from Cardiff International White Water
Plas y Brenin ShePaddles Weekend 2026
May 2026 — Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig, North Wales
The Plas y Brenin ShePaddles weekend brought women together from across paddlesport for coaching, workshops, adventures and lots of opportunities to connect over cake. I have been lucky enough to attend every year since it began, and it remains one of the most joyful events in my paddling calendar.
Read my account of the Plas y Brenin ShePaddles Weekend 2026
White Water SUP Fest Scotland 2026
12th–14th June 2026 — Aberfeldy, Scotland
White Water SUP Fest moved to Scotland for 2026 after ten years in North Wales. Although this one is paddleboard rather than kayak focused, it deserves a mention as a friendly whitewater weekend featuring coaching, river paddling, competitions and a lively community atmosphere.
Read more about White Water SUP Fest Scotland
Tryweryn Festival 2026
3rd–5th July 2026 — River Tryweryn, Bala, North Wales
Tryweryn Festival returned for another weekend of whitewater races, freestyle, coaching, demo boats, trade stands, camping and evening entertainment. T-Fest is one of my favourite annual kayaking events because it combines lots of paddling with friendly competition and plenty of time to catch up with people.
#ShePaddles Cymru Summer Celebration
10th–12th July 2026 — Llandysul Paddlers, West Wales
The #ShePaddles Cymru Summer Celebration offered a wonderfully varied weekend of whitewater, freestyle, sea kayaking, flatwater paddling, workshops and live music. The focus was on confidence, community and having fun in a supportive environment, whatever somebody’s paddling background.
Read my account of the 2026 Summer Celebration
Llandysul River Festival 2026
6th–9th August 2026 — Llandysul Paddlers, West Wales
Llandysul’s River Festival offered four busy days of paddling and outdoor activities, including introductions to whitewater kayaking, slalom coaching and racing, SUP, river swimming, coasteering and climbing. It was designed to work for both established paddlers and families wanting to try something new.
More details from Llandysul Paddlers
Garry Boater-X 2026
8th August 2026 — River Garry, Scotland
Garry Boater-X returned for another day of fast, friendly and slightly chaotic head-to-head racing. The event has built a reputation for being inclusive and welcoming while still giving paddlers the thrill of racing shoulder-to-shoulder down a brilliant grade 3 section of the River Garry.
Follow Garry Boater-X for future events
Junior and Under-23 Wild Water Racing European Championships
12th–15th August 2026 — Grandtully, Scotland
Grandtully hosted its first international Wild Water Racing competition, bringing some of Europe’s most talented young paddlers to the River Tay. The championships included classic and sprint racing, finishing with the sprint finals on the famous Grandtully rapids.
Read more from Paddle Scotland
A note about Teifi Tour
Unfortunately, there is still no sign of Teifi Tour returning. I will happily add it back to this calendar if that ever changes!