SailGP locks in Sassnitz, Rio and Portsmouth for multi-year calendar shake-up
It’s a big statement. Germany now sits alongside a clutch of long-term calendar anchors as SailGP seeks stability, local connection, and repeat impact. Perth stays on the map through 2028, New York returns in 2026 and 2027, and Rio de Janeiro steps in as a new, multi-year stop — delivering foiling drama to one of the most iconic waterfronts in the world. Bermuda is locked through 2028, with May 2027 dates confirmed.
Closer to home, Portsmouth will roar again with 25-26 July 2026 and 24-25 July 2027 set in stone after 20,000 fans crammed the Solent shoreline this summer. Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain key pillars of the Middle East programme, strengthening the tour’s year-round global spread.
“We’re building legacy, not one-off spectacles,” said SailGP boss Sir Russell Coutts. “Sassnitz proves how a powerful debut can become a long-term story. These commitments give us depth, impact, and the chance to return year after year.”
Coutts points to Portsmouth as proof: nine in ten fans travelled from outside the city, half stayed three nights or more, and local hotels and restaurants cashed in. Add broadcast reach into 212 territories and it’s clear repeat venues gain more than epic racing — they gain global attention and lasting local value.
The 2026 calendar is now set: Perth, Sydney, Auckland, Rio, Bermuda, New York, Halifax, Portsmouth, Sassnitz, Saint-Tropez, Geneva, Spain, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. The 2027 line-up already locks in Perth, Bermuda, New York, Portsmouth, Germany, Rio, and Dubai.
Meanwhile, the show rolls on: from Sassnitz to Saint-Tropez in September, then to Geneva for Switzerland’s first-ever SailGP stop. Tickets are already flying.
Confirmed 2026 season highlights:
Jan 17-18 – Perth
Feb 14-15 – Auckland
Feb 28-Mar 1 – Sydney
Apr 11-12 – Rio
May 9-10 – Bermuda
May 30-31 – New York
Jun 20-21 – Halifax
Jul 25-26 – Portsmouth
Aug 22-23 – Sassnitz
Sep – Spain
Sep 12-13 – Saint-Tropez
Sep 20-21 – Geneva
Nov 21-22 – Dubai
Nov 28-29 – Abu Dhabi Grand Final