2026 Head of the Charles Events

Today, USRowing revealed the slate of awards, events, and experiences set for next month’s Head Of The Charles Regatta – the world's largest three-day rowing competition, attracting 400,000 spectators and 11,000 competitors.

The USRowing tent at the 2026 Head of the Charles Regatta will be located near the Paddle Boston: Allston Brighton docks and the new HOCR Awards stage on the riverbank between Eliot Bridge and the finish line. The nearest address is the parking lot at 992 Soldiers Field Rd in Boston, MA.

Here's an overview of programming and access to the USRowing tent is free and open throughout the racing schedule, including free espresso drinks throughout the day on Friday and Sunday, and open to all attendees, except for a few events that require registration:

Friday, October 16

• 7:00 a.m.onward – Free espresso drinks available for all attendees.
• 11:00 a.m. – Survivor's Breakfast kicks off the USRowing experience, celebrating cancer survivors in the rowing community. Tent space is limited, and priority will be given to Survivor’s Rowing Network HOCR competitors. RSVP here.
• 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Path to Para – Learn about the Para national team and opportunities for athletes interested in para-rowing.
• 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. – Kate Ackerman (USRowing Chief Medical Officer; Director, Co-Founder & President, WHSP Institute) — Q&A on postmenopausal rowing and evidence-based menopause care
• 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – "United We Row" Lunch Event Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan from the Steady State Podcast lead a special live podcast conversation with special guest Hannah Diaz, 2026 World Champion gold-medal coxswain in the PR3 Mixed 4+ and a medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine. Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Hannah is a Princeton University graduate, where she coxed the Openweight Women’s First Varsity 8+ to multiple Ivy League titles and back-to-back NCAA podium finishes. RSVP here.
• 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. – USRowing National Team Happy Hour (offsite)- Calling all current and former U.S. National Team athletes! Join the Athlete Council for a casual happy hour to reconnect with friends and past teammates, meet the current team, and connect with fellow members of the USRowing community. RSVP here.

Saturday, October 17

• 8:00 a.m. -1 1:00 a.m. – Free espresso drinks available.
• 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Women's History Archives, open for viewing at the tent
• 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – Special Event & U.S. National Team Athlete Autograph signing at Newbury St., Boston, MA. More details to be announced shortly.
• 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. – National Team Athlete Autograph Session. Meet your favorite athletes and get their autographs. After one of the most successful seasons of racing around the world ,culminating in Amsterdam, members of the US National Team will be available to sign autographs, talk about their racing experience, and meet the rowing community.
• 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – National Rowing Foundation Luncheon
• 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. – National Rowing Foundation Hall of Fame Induction and Reception

Sunday, October 18

• 8:00 a.m. - 1:00p.m. – Free espresso drinks available.
• 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. – Regional Board Reps and Board of Directors Meet-up – Connect with your local board representatives. Come prepared with questions about rowing in your geography, how to get involved with a club, or just to get to know the USRowing Board of Directors.
• 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. – 2025 Board Awards Presentation – Celebrate the achievements of our community and the legends of our sport. Each year, the USRowing Board of Directors recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions to American rowing. All are welcome to attend this event, which will bestow honors on this year's winners. Learn more about the 2025 Board Awards recipients here.
• 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. – National Team Athlete Autograph Session

USRowing and the USRowing Foundation are excited to welcome rowing fanatics, coaches, alumni, and athletes to experience the legacy, witness the present, and embrace the future of rowing.