Roviana Lagoon Festival 2026

Date: 1 October 2026 – 31 May 2026

Location: Solomon Islands

Organizer: Roviana communities / Western Tourism Division (Tourism Solomons)

The Roviana Lagoon Festival gathers communities from across the Roviana Lagoon in Munda, in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Started in 2009 as a community event, it has two stated aims: bring the lagoon's villages together and keep culture and tradition alive. The signature event is the tomako war canoe race, in which carved canoes of a design once used for head-hunting raids are paddled hard across the lagoon by village crews. Villages also parade in traditional regalia with floats on both land and water, and there is custom dance, panpipe music, food markets and inter-village competitions. Another fixture is the Alec Wickham Swim, honouring the Roviana man credited with introducing the freestyle stroke to competitive swimming. The festival's timing has varied between years, so confirm current dates with Tourism Solomons before travelling. Munda has direct flights from Honiara, and the lagoon itself, dotted with islands and wartime relics, rewards a longer stay.

Event website

View this event on the World Sailing Day map

More sailing events in Solomon Islands

See all sailing events in Solomon Islands, or browse the world map to discover regattas, open days and sailing festivals near you — and explore yacht clubs, marinas and sailing schools along the way.

Want to grow sailing in Solomon Islands? Become a World Sailing Day ambassador.