Spectators look on as Luxembourg's 24th annual Duck Race begins; Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu

On the afternoon of Saturday 26 April 2025, hundreds of people gathered along the Alzette river in Luxembourg-Grund to observe the 24th edition of Luxembourg’s Duck Race.

The annual event, organised by the Roundtable Luxembourg, in association with the City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg - VdL), saw 20,000 yellow plastic ducks released onto the River Alzette from the Pont du Grund (Grund Bridge). People were invited to sponsor one of the ducks for €5 with the opportunity to win a car and a variety of other prizes.

To facilitate the race, Rue Munster, Rue Plaetis and Rue des Trèves were closed to traffic throughout the day, allowing participants and spectators to safely watch the race from various points in Luxembourg-Grund. Food and drink stalls were also installed at the Abbaye de Neumünster (neimënster), on Rue Plaetis and next to the Pont du Grund.

Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, and Mayor of Luxembourg City, Lydie Polfer, were present to see the ducks released, with the Deputy Prime Minister also taking the opportunity to assist by serving attendees from one of the drink stalls.

Once released, the ducks travelled several hundred metres down the River Alzette, past Abbaye de Neumünster and under the Stierchen Bridge before reaching the finish line at the western end of the Rives de Clausen. The organisers will announce the results and winners of the prizes on offer on Tuesday 29 April 2025 at duckrace.lu.

The Duck Race was held in conjunction with VdL’s "AntiGaspi" (anti-food waste) initiative and with the help of the Luxembourg association Rainforest.lu and classified as a carbon-neutral event, which will be achieved through a carbon offsetting project.

All proceeds from the race will be donated to charities working for the well-being of children in need, namely: Rokku Mi Rokka; Fondation Jugend- an Drogenhëllef; Study-Help ASBL; Pharmaciens sans Frontières ASBL; Pour une Parenthèse; Asha 4 Children; Entwécklong durch Gerechten Handel; and Aide au Bénin.

SM