Hot Springs Running of the Tubs 2026 Returns With New Rules, Rubber Ducks, and Bathtub Racing Chaos
The Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs returns to downtown Hot Springs on June 6, 2026, bringing one of Arkansas’ most unique and entertaining events back to Bathhouse Row. Known for its costumed teams, bathtub races, and over-the-top rules, the annual Hot Springs tradition combines community spirit, comedy, and competition in a way only Hot Springs can.
This year’s edition adds even more twists to an already outrageous event, including new scoring categories, required bathtub accessories, and additional race-day challenges.
For visitors looking for unusual things to do in Arkansas, quirky festivals in Hot Springs, or summer events in the Natural State, the Running of the Tubs remains one of the most memorable experiences on the Arkansas events calendar.
What Is the Running of the Tubs?
The Running of the Tubs is a bathtub race held each year along historic Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs. Teams of five race customized bathtubs through a series of obstacles while dressed in themed costumes and following an intentionally absurd rulebook.
The event celebrates Hot Springs’ long history as a spa destination, once promoted with the slogan “We Bathe the World.”
The race includes three divisions:
- Traditional Division, featuring cast iron bathtubs
- Modified Division, featuring fiberglass or plastic tubs
- Stock Division, featuring tubs supplied by Visit Hot Springs for nonprofit groups, churches, and civic organizations
The event combines athletic competition, parade-style entertainment, and creative performance art, making it one of the most photographed and talked-about festivals in Arkansas.
New Rules for the 2026 Running of the Tubs
Organizers from Visit Hot Springs expanded the official rulebook for 2026, adding several new requirements and scoring opportunities for teams competing in this year’s race.
New rules include:
- Every bathtub must contain a duck
- Every tub must include a tea bag in recognition of America 250 and the Boston Tea Party
- Every team must carry a Bathhouse Soapery product
- Every participant must wear Sun Bum sunscreen products
- Teams will receive a “Big Duck Energy” score from judges
The duck requirement has already become one of the most talked-about additions to the race. Organizers have not strictly defined what qualifies as a duck, leaving room for creativity and interpretation by the judges.
Additional long-standing rules remain in place, including mandatory suspenders and head coverings for competitors.
Organizers also note that race rules remain “subject to change at any time, including during the races.”
Judging of the Tubs Returns June 5
Festivities begin on Friday evening, June 5, with the annual Judging of the Tubs at Hill Wheatley Plaza.
During the judging event, teams present their decorated tubs, costumes, and overall creativity to the judging panel. High-scoring teams earn “5-step advantage cards,” which allow them to begin ahead of competitors during Saturday morning’s race.
The pre-race judging has become a major attraction of the weekend, with teams often spending months designing themes, costumes, and elaborate bathtub decorations.
Bathhouse Row Becomes a Bathtub Race Course
The bathtub races begin Saturday morning along historic Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs.
The 2026 course introduces an additional challenge. At each obstacle station, the bathtub driver must collect a token before continuing. Teams missing a token at the finish line receive a one-minute penalty.
The added challenge introduces more strategy to the race while increasing the chaos spectators have come to expect.
The parade of tubs begins at 9 a.m., followed shortly afterward by the official race start.
Judges, Roller Derby Referees, and Plenty of Chaos
This year’s judges include Tiffany Tucker of Farrar & Williams and Adam Webb of Garland County Library, along with Monte Everhart, known as the “Retired World’s Largest Leprechaun.”
Webb embraced the event’s playful nature in a pre-race statement filled with bathtub-themed puns, continuing a long-standing tradition of humor surrounding the event.
Race officiating duties will once again be handled by referees from Rock Town Derby, Little Rock’s flat-track roller derby league.
The combination of roller derby referees, decorated bathtubs, themed costumes, and downtown crowds helps make the Running of the Tubs one of the most unusual sporting events in Arkansas.
Teams Competing in the 2026 Running of the Tubs
Twenty-eight teams are entered in this year’s competition, representing businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and organizations from across the Hot Springs community.
Among the notable entries:
- Hot Springs Fire Department
- Hot Springs Police Department
- National Park Medical Center
- Garvan Woodland Gardens
- Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric
- Bath Fitter’s “Tubby and the Permafits”
The Hot Springs Fire and Police Departments will again compete for the annual “Battle of the Badge” title in the Modified Division.
Awards and Categories
In addition to divisional championships, teams and spectators can compete for several specialty awards, including:
- Most Spirited Tub
- Most Original Tub
- Best Overall Tub
- Tub-Tastic Fan Award
The fan award recognizes the most enthusiastic and creatively dressed spectator attending the event.
Running of the Tubs 2026 Schedule
Friday, June 5, 2026
- Tubs arrive at Hill Wheatley Plaza by 5 p.m.
- Judging of the Tubs begins at 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Teams assemble at 8 a.m.
- Parade of Tubs begins at 9 a.m.
- Running of the Tubs officially starts at 9:05 a.m.
The event takes place along Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs, one of Arkansas’ most iconic historic districts.
Additional information and official rules are available at runningofthetubs.org.
The Running of the Tubs continues to stand out as one of the most entertaining annual events in Arkansas, blending Hot Springs history, community traditions, and a healthy amount of absurdity into a race unlike anything else in the country.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
