Get ready for a once-in-a-century celebration on the water—because this year’s Red River Paddle Challenge is an event you absolutely won’t want to miss. This year we are marking a monumental milestone: the 100-year anniversary of the legendary Les Voyageurs Canoe Race.

This year’s Red River Paddle Challenge will weave the heritage of Canada’s longest-running canoe race into a vibrant, modern celebration—uniting past and present through special centennial programming.

By hosting this historic year, the Red River Paddle Challenge isn’t just paying tribute to a rugged paddling tradition—it’s reigniting a purpose that has inspired generations: to explore, respect, and celebrate the rivers that have shaped our shared heritage. This is more than a race. It’s a living story. And this year, you’ll want to be part of it!

For 2026 we will be offering two race distances for paddlers to choose from! Both distances are open to all paddle craft. Prizes are awarded for both races.

The Red River Paddle Challenge (RRPC) is a 44 kilometre (~27 miles) long distance single day paddling race on the Red River beginning in Winnipeg, Manitoba and ending down river in Lockport, Manitoba.

Les Voyageurs Challenge is a 110 kilometer (~68 miles) ultra distance paddling race on the Red River beginning in Ste Agathe, Manitoba and ending down river in Lockport, Manitoba. Les Voyageurs is a two-day staged race where participants paddle from Ste Agathe to The Forks Historic Port in Winnipeg on day one and then on day two participants join in with the Red River Paddle Challenge paddlers and paddle to Lockport.

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