The World Championship
Running of the Tubs!
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Join us in Hot Springs National Park for one of the most memorable annual events in Arkansas as costumed teams race customized bathtubs down Historic Bathhouse Row.
Keep on Tubbin!
A Wet & Wild Event!
The World Championship Running of the Tubs is one of the most unique and beloved annual events in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Every summer, thousands of visitors and locals gather in downtown Hot Springs National Park to witness a race unlike anything else in the country. Costumed teams push customized bathtubs on wheels down Historic Bathhouse Row, competing for bragging rights, special awards, and the prestigious Stueart Pennington Cup.
Still Soaked for Over 20 Years!
First launched in 2006, the World Championship Running of the Tubs was created as a tribute to Hot Springs’ classic motto, “We Bathe the World.” The event was named in honor of Stueart Pennington, a well-known downtown businessman who envisioned a celebration that would highlight Hot Springs’ unique spa heritage. Since its beginning, the event has grown into one of the most anticipated festivals in Arkansas tourism, drawing spectators and racers from across the South.
The race itself is a combination of athletic challenge and hilarious spectacle. Each team consists of five participants. Four bath attendants must push the tub down Bathhouse Row while the team captain sits inside the bathtub and steers. Teams begin the course with a tub full of water and must cross the finish line with at least ten gallons still inside. This adds an extra level of difficulty and strategy, especially when the course becomes chaotic with cheering crowds and splashing spectators.
We Bathe the World!
This free, family-friendly event celebrates the rich history of Hot Springs as America’s original spa city. For more than a century, people from around the world have traveled to Hot Springs National Park to experience the natural thermal waters and the legendary bathhouses that line Central Avenue. The Running of the Tubs transforms that historic tradition into a lively community festival filled with creativity, competition, and downtown excitement.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
