Participants compete during the Red Bull Vallam Valli at North Paravur near Kochi, Kerala, India on September 06, 2026. // Focus Sports / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202609070007 // Usage for editorial use only //
GOTHURUTH, KERALA, September 7, 2026: Kerala’s legendary boat-racing tradition got a high-energy modern makeover as Red Bull Vallam Vali 2026 transformed the waters of the Periyar River into a spectacular “Tug of Oars” arena — with BiGG Sports News, a BiGG MiC Network company, serving as the production partner for Red Bull India for the third time.
Held at the historic Gothuruth in North Paravur, Season 2 of Red Bull Vallam Vali brought together the traditional spirit of Vallamkali with a fiercely competitive head-to-head format.
The action was also taken to a nationwide digital audience through BiGG Sports News’ live production and streaming, with the live coverage crossing 4 million views across India via the Dailyhunt app.
BiGG Sports News, a BiGG MiC Network company, returns as Red Bull India’s production partner for the third time, taking Kerala’s spectacular ‘Tug of Oars’ to a 4M+ digital audience across India via Dailyhunt
Punnamada Panthers pull off a double
The sporting story of the day belonged to the Punnamada Panthers, who emerged champions in both disciplines.
The Panthers and Vembanad Vikings reached the finals in both categories, before Punnamada Panthers completed a stunning double victory.
Four teams competed in the tournament:
Punnamada Panthers | Vembanad Vikings | Kuttanad Knights | Ashtamadi Acers
The competition followed a round-robin format, with every team playing three matches before the top two advanced to the final.
The ‘Tug of Oars’ takes over Kerala
Red Bull Vallam Vali puts a completely different spin on traditional boat racing.
In the Chundan Vallam Row Off, two massive 85-man snake boats faced each other bow-to-bow, with both crews rowing in opposite directions.
The Iruttukuthy Vallam Row Off featured two teams of 27 rowers on the same boat, also rowing against each other in opposite directions.
It is essentially a tug-of-war — except the rope has been replaced by traditional boats, and the battleground is the water.
120 seconds. One winner.
Every showdown carried a two-minute time limit.
If neither Vallam crossed the finish marker within 120 seconds, the team whose boat was farther from the centre line at the STOP announcement was declared the winner.
The league phase also rewarded speed, with aggregate winning times used as a tie-breaker when teams finished level on points.
The format turned every rowing stroke into a battle of strength, timing, coordination and strategy.
From Kerala’s backwaters to millions of screens
While the competition unfolded at Gothuruth, the production travelled far beyond the banks of the Periyar.
BiGG Sports News handled the live production as Red Bull India’s production partner, marking the third time the BiGG MiC Network company has partnered with Red Bull India in a production capacity.
The live coverage was distributed digitally through Dailyhunt, helping bring the unique sporting spectacle to audiences across India.
The coverage crossed the 4M+ views milestone, giving a traditional Kerala sporting format a massive digital audience beyond its home state.
For BiGG Sports News, the event represents another step in its growing role in the production and distribution of large-scale sporting properties.
100 feet of sporting heritage
At the heart of the spectacle was the iconic Chundan Vallam, Kerala’s famous snake boat.
The traditional boat measures around 100 feet (30 metres) and is synonymous with Kerala’s most famous backwater races during the Onam season.
The Iruttukuthy Vallam is a competition boat particularly known for its speed on still water.
Red Bull Vallam Vali takes these traditional sporting vessels and places them into a format built specifically for direct competition.
A historic venue gets a new sporting chapter
Gothuruth has deep roots in Kerala’s boat-racing culture.
The Gothuruth Vallamkali is among the oldest traditional boat races in Ernakulam district. It was first conducted in 1938 and continues to be held annually in September on the Periyar River.
In 2026, the historic venue witnessed a very different contest — traditional boats locked into a dramatic tug-of-war.
Where tradition meets modern entertainment
The event wasn’t restricted to the water.
The banks of the Periyar came alive with Chenda Melam performances and breakdance, creating a fusion of Kerala’s traditional culture and contemporary energy.
It was a sporting celebration that connected heritage, entertainment and modern digital broadcasting.
BiGG Sports News x Red Bull India: Third production partnership
For BiGG Sports News, Red Bull Vallam Vali 2026 represents another major production collaboration with Red Bull India.
As a BiGG MiC company, BiGG Sports News has now served as a production partner for Red Bull India for the third time, strengthening its position in the live sports production ecosystem.
From the backwaters of Kerala to millions of digital screens, the production showcased how traditional Indian sport can be presented to a modern, nationwide audience.
And on the water, the Punnamada Panthers delivered the final headline — winning both titles and dominating the second season of Red Bull Vallam Vali.
Kerala brought the tradition.
Red Bull brought the twist.
BiGG Sports News took it live to India.
4M+ views. One spectacular sporting story.
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