Double down under

Fremantle will host the opening 2026 event in SailGP debut as Sydney returns for record seventh edition.

19 April 2025

SailGP announces an expanded Australian circuit, with two events confirmed among the first 2026 Season destinations.

The Perth Sail Grand Prix will be hosted in Fremantle in January as the opening event of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, with the Sydney Sail Grand Prix, the original birthplace and first-ever SailGP, returning in February for a record seventh edition.

The duo of Australian events were named alongside a host of iconic global locations for next season, including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Halifax, Saint-Tropez, Portsmouth, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Remaining venues will be announced in due course.

SailGP’s West Coast debut launches a three-year partnership with the Western Australian Government that will see SailGP return to Fremantle each season until 2028.

SailGP will head to Rio in 2026.

SailGP will return to Sydney for the seventh edition. Photo: Jason Ludlow for SailGP.

Spectators watching the action from the Adrenaline Lounge. Photo: David Cliff for SailGP.

SailGP’s West Coast debut launches a three-year partnership with the Western Australian Government that will see SailGP return to Fremantle each season until 2028.

Sydney’s iconic harbour has been a staple on the SailGP calendar since its inception – with the stunning backdrop complementing ideal racing conditions, and a unique island-based fan offering. The 2026 Sydney Sail Grand Prix is the seventh edition supported by Destination NSW.

The 2026 Season of the Rolex SailGP Championship will continue a shift towards the consistent, regionalized format the league has built over preceding years. Beginning in January and unfolding over an 11-month period, the season will start Down Under in January 2026.

From there, racing fans are in for another unforgettable European summer, before the Rolex SailGP Championship comes to its dramatic close with back-to-back events in the UAE in November, including the winner-takes-all Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.

This 2025 Season, SailGP welcomed a record fleet of 12 national teams, including two new additions to the startline: the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team and Red Bull Italy SailGP Team. The championship has confirmed plans to add two new expansion teams to its roster in 2026.

Growing audiences and consistent sporting action has ensured the championship works with some of the most reputable brands in sport and entertainment, welcoming Emirates, DP World and Accor to its roster of global partners in the 2025 Season, alongside an expanded Title Partnership with Rolex and global partners Mubadala and Oracle.

The 2026 Season calendar will be released in full – dates and locations – in due course. Visit SailGP.com or sign up to SailGP+ for access to first-release tickets, exclusive content, special offers, and top-tier competitions from the most exciting racing on water.

SailGP CEO, Sir Russell Coutts said. “We’ve had unprecedented interest from cities around the world, SailGP is excited to release a first preview of what fans can expect from the 2026 Season, including the return of some of the most iconic race stadium destinations on the calendar.

“We’re really excited to extend our presence in Australia, home of the team with the most SailGP championship wins to date, to include Perth, and looking forward to the growth potential over the next few years. 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.”

He continued, “We had our very first event in Sydney Harbour in 2019 and the venue consistently delivers some of the most thrilling racing on the SailGP calendar every year. Return venues are a pivotal aspect of SailGP’s ongoing global expansion, as we strengthen our connection to new and emerging audiences.”

Western Australian Government Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Reece Whitby MLA added, “WA will once again have the eyes of the world upon our shores when the Perth Sail Grand Prix brings a weekend of exciting racing activity on the waters off Fremantle.

“SailGP is an extremely prestigious event, bringing high yield visitors and generating enormous media coverage, so it’s a major coup for the WA Government to have secured it for Fremantle in a three-year deal.

“With over 20,000 km of pristine coastline, WA is the perfect destination to stage an international sailing event of this level, and we look forward to seeing it bring visitors to our state.”

NSW Government Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper commented, “Sydney is one of the world’s great sporting stages, and there’s no better backdrop for SailGP than our spectacular harbour. We’re proud to support the return of this world-class event in 2026, welcoming the globe’s top sailing teams back to where it all began.

“With tens of millions watching from around the world, SailGP not only showcases the thrill of elite sport but also shines a global spotlight on our city’s natural beauty and visitor appeal.”

New Zealand was noticeably absent from the list of venues, but Coutts stated he is confident of a return to New Zealand in 2026 and SailGP is in discussions with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and New Zealand Major Events for a multi-year commitment.

Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin ahead of Canada SailGP Team helmed by Phil Robertson and the fleet on Race Day 1 of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix in Bermuda. Saturday 4th May 2024. Photo: Bob Martin for SailGP.

The fleet sails past Shark Island. Friday 7 February 2025. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 3 Season 2025. Photo: Jon Buckle for SailGP

SailGP racing on Sydney Harbour.

Spectators in the Race Stadium cheer on the sailGP Fleet on Race Day 2 of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix in New York, USA. Sunday 23rd June 2024. Photo: Jed Jacobsohn for SailGP.