The sixth season of Keralam’s prestigious Champions Boat League (CBL-6), organised by the Tourism department annually, will commence on September 19, showcasing the State’s unique snake-boat race heritage in multiple venues across the state.

Starting from Karuvatta in Alappuzha district, the CBL 2026 will feature 11 races spanning across scenic backwater and riverine sites in different districts. The final race will be held on November 21 in Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, coinciding with the President’s Trophy Boat Race.

The Tourism department has plans to brand Keralam’s unique snake-boat race tradition globally, said Minister for Tourism and Culture P.C. Vishnunadh. The upcoming CBL season will also enhance the tourism potential of the places where the races are being held. The season will offer tourists an opportunity to experience the natural charm of our backwaters and riverine ecosystem and local culture in all its flavours, the Minister added.

Name of the teams

The teams this year onwards will be known by the name of the participating snake-boats unlike previous years. A meeting chaired by Mr. Vishnunadh to plan and prepare for the CBL-6 was attended by Minister for Co-operation and Excise M. Liju and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob. District Collectors and senior officials of the Tourism department were also present.

After the opening race, the CBL will proceed to Kallada in Kollam district on September 23. The third race will be at Pandanad in Alappuzha district on September 26. Kottapuram in Thrissur district will be the fourth venue (October 2), followed by Marine Drive in Kochi (October 10) and Piravom (October 17), both in Ernakulam District. Thazhathangadi in Kottayam will host the seventh race on October 24.

The subsequent three races will be held in Pulinkunnu (October 31), Kainakari (November 7) in Alappuzha district and Kayamkulam (November 14), before the grand finale in the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam on November 21.