SPORTS: CHAMPIONS BOAT LEAGUE SEASON-6 TO GET UNDER WAY ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2026

* CBL to be branded globally: Minister Shri P C Vishnunadh

* Inaugural race at Karuvatta, finals at Kollam on Nov 21

TTT NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram | 11 SEPTEMBER 2026

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

Starting from Karuvatta in Alappuzha district, the IPL-model CBL 2026 will feature 11 races in as many places, 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, Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri P C Vishnunadh said.

The upcoming CBL season will also enhance the tourism potential of the places where the races are being held. Besides enjoying the races and the festive mood they generate, 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 said.

The teams this year onwards will be known by the name of the participating snake-boats unlike previous years.

A meeting chaired by Shri Vishnunadh to plan the CBL Season-6 was attended by Minister for Co-operation and Excise, Shri M Liju and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Shri Anoop Jacob. District Collectors and senior officials of the Tourism Department were also present.

After the opening race, the CBL will move on 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 Pulinkunnu (October 31) and Kainakari (November 7) in Alappuzha district and Kayamkulam (November 14), before the grand finale in the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam on November 21