Planning underway for SailGP Season 6

As Season 5 of SailGP approaches its mid-point, the league has released a first look of its forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, with multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions.

For the sixth season, stages will be held in Perth, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Bermuda, New York, Halifax, Portsmouth, Saint-Tropez, and Dubai, followed by the winner-takes-all Grand Final in Abu Dhabi. The full calendar – including remaining host cities and dates – will be released when confirmed.

The league also revealed that after increasing to 12 teams in Season 5, they will add two new expansion teams to its roster in 2026.

The league began Season 5 with 14 events, but Rio de Janeiro was cancelled (though may be rescheduled) due to wing issues while the removal of an event in the Middle East was not explained.

The 2026 Season will continue a shift toward a consistent, regionalized format, beginning in January and unfolding over an 11-month period. The league begins in Australia with a return to Sydney and a new event in Perth, and then its up to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Spring will welcome racing in North America with stops in Bermuda, New York City, and Halifax before the move to Europe for stages in Portsmouth and Saint-Tropez. Season 6 will come to an end with back-to-back events in the United Arab Emirates.

“Return venues are a pivotal aspect of SailGP’s ongoing global expansion, as we strengthen our connection to new and emerging audiences,” said SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts. “Destinations like New York and Saint-Tropez have become cornerstone events of the SailGP calendar, with their stunning backdrops, rich sporting histories, and enthusiastic fanbases.

“Long-term hosting agreements allow SailGP to build an enduring legacy in the cities we visit, and become tentpole events on the local sporting calendar – serving as crucial touchpoints for fans and sponsors alike.”

CONFIRMED 2026 SEASON EVENTS:

January – Perth Sail Grand Prix – Australia
February – Sydney Sail Grand Prix – Australia
April – Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix – Brazil
May – Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix – Bermuda
May – Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix – USA
June – Canada Sail Grand Prix | Halifax – Canada
July – Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth – England
September – ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez – France
November – Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix – UAE
November – Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2026 Season Grand Final – UAE

SailGP information – YouTube – Facebook

Format for Season 5:
• Teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event runs across two days.
• Five qualifying fleet races of approximately 15 minutes may be scheduled for each regatta.
• The top three teams from qualifying advance to a final race to be crowned event champion and earn the largest share of the prize purse (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had $400,000.00 USD prize purse with winning team earning $200k at each event).
• The season ends with the Grand Final, which includes the Championship Final Race for the top three teams in the season standing with the winner claiming a monetary award (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had $2 million USD prize).
• The top team on points ahead of the three-boat Championship Final will get a monetary award (amount not confirmed; Season 4 had a $350,000.00 prize).
• Ten of the 12 teams are privately owned, with the league having ownership of New Zealand and Spain.

For competition documents, click here.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.

Source: SailGP