The Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs returns to Hot Springs on June 6, 2026, bringing back one of the most entertaining, spirit-soaked traditions anywhere in the state. This annual bathtub push down Bathhouse Row mixes athletic chaos, historic charm, and plenty of splash friendly antics to create a summer event unlike any other.
A Summer Tradition That Embraces the Weird
The race gets rolling at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 6, but the fun kicks off the evening before with tub judging at 6 p.m. Friday, June 5. Teams decorate and theme their bathtubs with as much humor and creativity as possible. The next morning they push those water filled tubs down the heart of downtown in a fast but very soggy race for bragging rights.
As Alexis Hampo, special events manager for Visit Hot Springs, puts it, “It’s time for racers to get ready for The Cleanest World Championship on Earth. The Running of the Tubs will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, and racers have until then to get in shape to push standard sized bathtubs full of water down the main street of the town that once boasted ‘We Bathe the World.’”
This year marks the 20th Running of the event since its revival in 2006. The only pause came in 2020, but the celebration has otherwise grown into one of downtown Hot Springs’ most beloved annual spectacles.
Costumes, Chaos, and Community Fun
Fans and racers embrace the absurdity. Teams show up in themed costumes, spectators bring their best water soakers, and everyone leaves just a little wetter than they arrived.
Hampo sums it up perfectly: “Hot Springs is proud to boast the most insane competitive sporting event in all of Arkansas or maybe even the world. Fans get to watch and even participate from the sidelines as costumed teams push customized bathtubs on wheels past our historic bathhouses in the hopes of winning bigtime glory and even bigger trophies. Presented by Bathhouse Soapery and Caldarium, our event is free, family friendly, and the cleanest fun on Earth. Fans soak the racers, and often themselves, with water soakers as the tubs go past.”
She also hints that racers should be ready, because 2026 could break some splash records. “Last year seemed like it might have been the wettest competition on record, but I have a feeling 2026 competition will be one for the books. If I had any advice for the competitors this year, I would say to start training early. The judges will be coming out with their robes ready and their water blasters loaded.”
Registration Now Open
Teams interested in racing can register now. Spectators can mark their calendars for this free, family friendly event and plan to bring friends, water blasters, and an appreciation for the joyfully odd. Running of the Tubs is one of the most playful ways to celebrate summer in Hot Springs, mixing local history with pure community fun.
Photos courtesy of Visit Hot Springs.
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