The Heartbeat of the IBCPC Festival: Joy, Passion, and a Homecoming in France
Written by Meri Gibson, IBCPC President, IDBF senior Vice President
Every four years, the IBCPC Participatory Festival becomes far more than a gathering on the water. It is a celebration of courage, connection, and the deep joy of moving forward together. Rather than medals or margins, it honours something far more enduring: participation, belonging, and the shared understanding of people whose lives have been touched by breast cancer and strengthened through dragon boat paddling.
That is the magic of IBCPC. Its mission is to encourage the growth of breast cancer dragon boat teams through participation and inclusiveness, while promoting paddling as part of a healthy life after diagnosis. These are not just ideals. They are present in every embrace on the shoreline, every paddle lifted in rhythm, and every quiet moment of recognition between people who understand one another without needing words.
In 2026, that spirit will come to France with unforgettable energy. For the first time, the festival will be held on the shores of Lac du Bourget in Aix-les-Bains, and it is set to be the biggest IBCPC festival ever hosted. Thousands of participants from hundreds of teams and dozens of countries will gather in one extraordinary place, bringing stories of resilience, friendship, tenacity, and hope. Its scale is remarkable, but its true significance lies in what it represents: a global community showing up for one another with open hearts.
IBCPC’s values are woven through every part of the festival. Connection lives in reunions and in friendships that begin with a smile. Strength is there in every person who steps into a boat after overcoming so much. Tenacity shows itself in the training, the travel, and the determination to be present. Inclusivity and support are reflected in the belief that no one should be left on the dock. There is joy in movement: in the splash of paddles, the sound of voices and the rhythm of people moving as one.
What makes the IBCPC festival so powerful is that it tells a truth the world needs to see: life after breast cancer can be vibrant, active, meaningful, and deeply connected. This festival is advocacy without preaching, inspiration without performance, and healing without isolation. It is proof that people can reclaim their bodies, their confidence, and their joy, not alone, but together.
France 2026 will be more than the largest IBCPC festival; it will be a home for hope on a grand scale. It will bring together thousands of people who may have different stories yet recognise something of themselves in one another’s journeys. When the boats launch onto the water in Aix-les-Bains, they will carry more than paddlers. They will carry the mission, the values and the unbreakable spirit of a global community that continues to rise, paddle and shine together.
IBCPC is an associate organisation of the IDBF. For more information, visit https://www.ibcpc.com/ or learn more about the 2025 Festival at https://ibcpcfrance2026.com/.
Photo from the IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival Racing Day 2 event held at the Karapiro Domain, Waikato, New Zealand on Sunday, 16 April, 2023. Photo by Mike Walen / KeyImagery Photography. Copyright: © Aotearoa Wahine Toa Ora Trust.
About the IDBF
The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) is the global governing body for dragon boat racing. Founded in 1991 in Hong Kong, it oversees and promotes the sport of dragon boat paddling across the world. With a mission to foster unity, friendship, and fair competition, the IDBF organises multiple international world championships, sets rules and standards for dragon boat racing and equipment, and has a membership base of over 80 national federations.