Everyone starts somewhere.
Young players and developing teams get to experience real games in an encouraging festival atmosphere. Being part of the event matters as much as the result.
DRENCHEDFEST / SUSSEX JUNIOR WATER POLO
Big games.
Little legends.
A celebration of young players, brilliant teamwork and the joy of competitive water polo. DrenchedFEST brings children, teams, schools and families together for unforgettable poolside memories.
Celebrating the festival's history. No new festival date or booking is currently being advertised.
A FESTIVAL WITH A PURPOSE
Competition that
brings people together.
For many children, a first tournament is the moment water polo becomes something bigger: a team to represent, a goal to celebrate and friends to cheer on. DrenchedFEST was created to give more young people that experience.
Something worth cheering for.
Passes, goals, saves, comebacks and sideline encouragement give children opportunities to learn together and grow in confidence.
A reason to keep playing.
Festival matches help children put their swimming and water polo training into practice — and inspire them to explore club, squad and representative opportunities.
REAL MOMENTS FROM DRENCHEDFEST
Faces, teams,
and festival memories.
Photographs recently added to the Drenched media library, identified as DrenchedFEST 2026. Genuine Drenched imagery; no AI-generated photos.
THE STORY SO FAR
From Sussex pools
to lasting memories.
The festival has long been part of Drenched's mission to make junior water polo accessible, enjoyable and something teams across the region can share.
2018
A region comes together
The 2018 event included age-group tournaments for under-9, under-11 and under-13 players. Matches took place at Wadurs in Shoreham and Splashpoint in Worthing, with age-appropriate rules designed to encourage participation and keep games flowing.
Water Polo England also reported young players from Bognor, Littlehampton, Shoreham, Washington and Worthing, alongside a South East Region girls' development squad. These were historical venues and are not current weekly Drenched session locations.
Water Polo England 2018 coverage ↗Original DrenchedFEST 2018 information ↗2019
A fixture on the junior calendar
The Drenched league's 2019 published fixture list included DrenchedFEST on 29 June, demonstrating how the festival helped bring grassroots league and tournament opportunities together.
Archived 2019 fixtures ↗2023
A golden-goal finish
Hurstpierpoint College described its Year 6 team taking part in the under-11 competition alongside Drenched teams and Aquademy from Cobham. Hurst's final against Aquademy went into extra time, with Hurst winning on a golden goal. The school described it as a valuable first outing for its team.
Hurstpierpoint College's match report ↗2026
New photographs, the same spirit
The Drenched media library now includes a collection of photographs labelled DrenchedFEST 2026, reflecting the energy and community that has made the festival memorable. Further 2026 event details will only be added after confirmation.
Explore the 2026 gallery ↗MORE THAN ONE DAY OF MATCHES
The confidence
to keep going.
DrenchedFEST is one part of a much bigger pathway. Children discover Mini Polo, develop strong swimming and water polo skills, become part of a team and, when ready, explore deep-water competition, clubs and representative opportunities.
A festival is a brilliant opportunity to see what all those training hours are for: playing together, supporting each other and finding inspiration to progress.
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE
Built for players.
Powered by community.
Our festivals are made possible by young athletes and their families, teachers, coaches, referees, schools, clubs, pool partners and volunteers. From first-time players to experienced teams, everyone contributes to the atmosphere that makes DrenchedFEST special.
Want to follow our story? Browse the Drenched Facebook page, or explore our wider community and competition programmes.
PART OF THE DRENCHED STORY
Every team has
a first tournament.
Interested in getting involved in junior water polo? Learn about our weekly sessions and future opportunities. We'll announce any new DrenchedFEST dates separately once confirmed.
Enquire about water polo ↗