For the first time the festival will bring together all whitewater canoe disciplines - slalom, wildwater and freestyle - across three competitions from February 15 to 24.

More than 300 paddlers from 30 countries are expected to take part.

"It is going to be one of the biggest freestyle competitions that Australia has had since the World Championships in Penrith back in 2004," the chair of Paddle Australia's Freestyle Committee Jez Jezz said.

"We have been trying to get this coordinated for a while and now it is happening and we all within the sport are very excited about it all.

"It will be a great spectacle to watch.

"Loud music, great action all down by the side of the feature."

The freestyle competition is set to feature some of the world's best paddlers, including Japan's World Cup champion Suematso Yoshiko in the women's event, plus world junior champion Sage Donelly from the United States.

The heats for each gender will take place on February 16 and 23, while the finals will go ahead on February 17 and 24.