DATE: May 15, 2026
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — Garland County’s first responders are already throwing more shade than a red oak tree as competition nears in the Battle of the Badge division of the 2026 World Championship Running of the Tubs bathtub races along World Famous Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs.
The Battle of the Badge competition on June 6 will pit bathtub racers from the Hot Springs Fire Department, the Hot Springs Police Department and the Garland County Sheriff’s Office in an all-out sprint down Central Avenue lined with thousands of fans urging them along with water-soakers.
The first responders will join 25 other five-person teams in three divisions for the 20th running of the tubs since the races began in 2006. No races were held in 2020, the first year of the covid pandemic. The water-soaked races feature divisions for Traditional (cast iron), Modified (plastic or fiberglass), Stock, for nonprofit organizations (tub provided by Visit Hot Springs).
The Sheriff’s Department won last year’s Battle of the Badge and Sheriff Mike McCormick says his team is champing at the bit to mix it up again.
“Last year, we brought the heat, emerging victorious and earning the title of champion of the 2025 Battle of the Badge competition,” McCormick said. “We will defend our title against all challengers and continue striving for greatness as we aim to bring home a win in both the 2026 Battle of the Badge and our Modified Division of the Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs competition. Let the battle begin.”
Fire Department Assistant Chief Tom Braughton responded, “Even though we had a resounding victory in the Modified Division last year, our sole focus is beating HSPD and GCSO in the Battle of the Badge.”
The police were a bit more taciturn, with Tubs Team Captain Aaron Combs saying simply, “Run fast and don’t get last.”
The Running of the Tubs will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, down the main street of the town that once boasted “We Bathe the World,” Visit Hot Springs Special Events Manager Alexis Hampo said.
The competing tubs will be judged the evening of June 5 at 6 p.m. in the downtown area.
This year’s sponsors are Bathhouse Soapery and Caldarium – Presenting Sponsor; Sun Bum – Judging of the Tubs Sponsor; Aqua / Wrapped Gift Boutique, Bath Planet, Riser Ford, Cablelynx Broadband – Obstacle Sponsors. ESPN will be the media sponsor.
The Battle of the Badge, which will be the first race to start on June 6, has a long history. The Fire Department was the winner in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Police Department won in 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. The Sheriff’s Office won in 2025. No races were held in 2020, the first year of the covid pandemic.
This year’s complete Running of the Tubs lineup:
Traditional:
- Visit Hot Springs – Hot Springs Bathers
- Oaklawn – Oaklawn Elite
- National Park College – The NPC Do Gooders and Be Gooders
- National Park Medical Center – Yabba Dabba Doo for National Park Medical Center
- Pafford Medical Service – Pafford Bathbulance Peeps
- Riser Ford – Riser Ford
- The Waters Hotel – Sandlot Squad
- Gardeners Gone WILD(flower) – Garvan Woodland Gardens
Modified:
- Hot Springs Fire Department
- Hot Springs Police Department
- National Park College – Molten Mayhem (National Park College Welding Students)
- Hollywood Feed – Delivery Dogs
- U.S. Army Recruiting – ARMY
- PRIDE Hot Springs – Flamin’ Olympians
- Hamstra Party of 5 – The Quack Pack
- Oaklawn – Oaklawn Elite
- Bath Fitter – Tubby and the Permafits
- Garland County Sheriff’s Office
- Reynolds Consumer Products – Rolling with Reynolds
- CGI (Consultants to Government Industry) Federal – Arkansas Passport Center – SS Passport
- Elevation Physical Therapy – Elevation Physical Therapy
- Hot Springs National Park Employees – Founding Bathers
- The Mountain Valley Spring Water – The Spring Water Sprinters
- Paschal’s Rascals – Paschal Air, Plumbing, & Electric
Stock
- Sun Bum / NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) – Sun Bum’s Smells Like Summer Tub
- Oaklawn Chapel – Oaklawn Elite
- Wake Makers – Spring Lake Camp
- Arkansas Spa Pacers – Arkansas Spa Pacers
Hampo said, “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.
More information about this year’s race is at runningofthetubs.org.
The races have drawn national attention as teams dress in wacky costumes to push regulation-sized bathtubs full of water and a driver through the historic downtown district of America’s Spa.
The Running of the Tubs is named in honor of the late Hot Springs businessman Stueart Pennington, who advocated tirelessly for the establishment of bathtub races to emphasize Hot Springs’ reputation as a thermal bathing mecca.
Prizes are awarded in six categories: Traditional, Modified, Stock, Most Spirited, Most Original and Best Overall. The Traditional division is open to cast iron bathtubs. The Modified division is open to plastic or fiberglass tubs. The Stock division is open to nonprofits, religious and governmental organizations. Visit Hot Springs provides free tubs to those entrants.
All teams consist of five members, with four pushing the tub filled with water and one member steering. Tubs must be at least 48 inches long and 24 inches wide. The wheels on the tub cannot exceed 30 inches in diameter mounted on axles, and may not exceed 44 inches wide. Costumes are required.
For information contact Alexis Hampo at 501-321-2027.