The 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race was held on August 22, 2026, at the famous Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. One of Kerala’s most celebrated sporting and cultural events, the race brought together traditional Chundan Vallams (snake boats) with large teams of oarsmen competing in synchronised rhythm before thousands of spectators.
The annual event traces its history to Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Alappuzha in 1952 and has since become an important symbol of Kerala’s backwater culture and boat-racing tradition. In the 2026 edition, Aroma-1 of Aroma Boat Club won the Nehru Trophy.