Your drone. Your story.
CBL 2026 — Theme-Based Drone Videography Competition
Capture the beauty, the emotion, the culture and the spirit of the Champions Boat League — from above. Selected pilots get registered, kitted out, and compete for real prize money.
Applying is free. Applying does not guarantee participation — only selected pilots are registered for a venue.
First race: Saturday 19 September 2026 — Karuvatta, Alappuzha
Organised by
Organiser
Dronimagination
Kerala's aerial storytelling specialists — the drone academy and production house behind CBL 2026, end to end.
In association with
Kerala Tourism
God's Own Country — bringing Kerala's backwaters, culture and festivals to a global audience, one story at a time.
In association with
Champions Boat League
Kerala's premier snake boat racing league — ten venues, one season, the story this competition exists to tell.
About the competition
CBL is more than a boat race.
It is about the people, the places, the culture, the energy, the preparation, the celebration and the emotions surrounding every race. We want you to capture that story through your drone — a powerful, cinematic video that brings together the beauty, emotion, culture, art, people and spirit of the CBL venue.
Don’t just capture the race. Tell its story.
Your journey
How it works
From application to winner announcement — every step of the season.
Open to everyone
Who can apply?
A drone pilot licence is not required to apply. Selection is based on previous work, creative ability, experience and suitability.
The brief
What should you capture?
Go beyond the boat race.
Most importantly: make us feel something.
Competition format
Final video
Don’t let your best footage sit on a hard drive.
Handing over your raw footage at the venue is mandatory for every registered participant. A designated Data Transfer Desk copies your footage directly at the venue — race footage, people and crowd, culture and local life, boat preparations, event setup, behind-the-scenes, FPV and establishing shots. Supporting raw footage earns additional marks during judging.
How you'll be scored
Judging criteria
Beautiful shots are not enough — we're looking for a clear idea, a story and an emotion.
- Visual Beauty & Cinematic Quality — 30%
- Theme Relevance — 25%
- Technical Execution — 15%
- Storytelling & Emotional Impact — 10%
- Drone Movements — 10%
- Supporting Raw Footage — 5%
- Instagram Reach & Engagement — 5%
What you can win
Prizes
Next venue. Next story. Next ₹10,000.
Participant kit & vouchers
Registered participants receive a participant kit and vouchers worth ₹3,000 at the venue Registration Desk on check-in.
Season 2026
Venues & dates
10 venues across the CBL season. Preferences are considered, not guaranteed.
Read before applying
Important information
Applying
- Applying is free.
- Applying does not guarantee participation.
- About 20–25 pilots may be registered per venue.
- Preferred venue/date is considered but not guaranteed.
- Selected applicants must confirm within 48 hours to be registered.
Cancellation policy
Once you confirm a venue offer, you’re committing to attend. If a registered participant cancels or doesn’t show up after confirming, they’re disqualified from the entire season — every venue, not just the one they missed. You’ll be asked to explicitly acknowledge this before confirming any offer.
Safety & responsibility
- Operate your drone responsibly.
- Follow all applicable drone regulations.
- Follow the instructions of the authorised operations team.
- Maintain safe distances from people, boats, infrastructure and aircraft.
- Fly only within the permitted area and time.
- Stop flying immediately if instructed.
Full safety declaration and terms are on the Safety and Terms pages.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is applying free?+
Yes. Applying costs nothing. Applying does not guarantee participation — only selected applicants are registered for a venue.
What's the difference between applying and registering?+
Applying is the free form anyone can submit. Registration happens only after you're selected and you confirm a specific venue offer — that's when you get a Participant ID.
Do I need a drone pilot licence?+
No. Everyone may apply — licensed or not. If you're licensed you can add your licence and UIN number, but it's informational only.
Can I choose my venue?+
You can indicate two preferred venues plus whether you can travel to any venue. Preferences are considered but not guaranteed.
What if I confirm and then can't attend?+
Once you confirm a venue offer, cancelling or not showing up disqualifies you from the entire season, not just that venue.
Is handing over raw footage really mandatory?+
Yes. Every registered participant must hand over raw footage at the venue's Data Transfer Desk.
What do I get for participating?+
Registered participants receive a participant kit and vouchers worth ₹3,000 at the venue Registration Desk on check-in.