The race for the $2 million SailGP 2026 prize purse begins this weekend at the Oracle Perth SailGP. With the action taking place on the 17–18 January, here is how…
SailGP 2026: Everything you need to know about the foiling championship
Photo: c/o Emirates GBR
SailGP is the world’s fastest-growing sailing league, featuring high-performance F50 foiling catamarans racing in a global championship.
Now entering its 2026 campaign, here is your essential guide to the teams, the technology, and the 2026 schedule.
Following a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi – where Emirates Great Britain secured the Rolex SailGP Championship title – the league returns for its most expansive year yet.
The 2026 SailGP season marks a significant milestone for the league, growing to a record 13-nation fleet and offering a staggering $12.8 million total prize purse.
What is SailGP?
SailGP is a global racing championship designed to deliver high-speed, close-to-shore ‘stadium’ racing.
SailGP events take place over two days with multiple short, intense fleet races.
The top three teams from the weekend then progress to a winner-takes-all Final to determine the event champion.
SailGP uses one-design foiling F50 catamarans, and all performance data is shared between teams, meaning there are no ‘secret’ technical advantages.
The F50: A 100km/h Flying Machine
The F50 catamaran was borne of the 2017 America’s Cup catamarans, with the boats undergoing significant development since that time to keep them as one of the most advanced racing machines on the planet.
In 2025, the introduction of titanium T-Foils allowed the fleet to consistently shatter the 100 km/h barrier, with Rockwool Racing setting a new speed record of 103.93 km/h (approx. 56 knots).
For 2026, the boats have been further refined with a new 27.5-meter modular wing, designed to keep the boats foiling even in lighter wind ranges, ensuring tighter racing for fans.
SailGP Teams: 13 Nations for 2026
The 2026 SailGP season sees the largest fleet competing in the event to date, with 13 teams representing nations from across the globe.
Emirates Great Britain enters the season as the defending champions, helmed by Dylan Fletcher.
They face stiff competition from perennial heavyweights the Australia ‘Bonds Flying Roos’ (led by Tom Slingsby) and the New Zealand ‘Black Foils’ (led by Peter Burling).
The 2026 season also marks the debut of Artemis SailGP, representing Sweden.
In a re-forming of their 2017 America’s Cup partnership, the team is led by Olympic legend Iain Percy and driven by the experienced Nathan Outteridge, the Swedish entry arrives as a pre-season favourite to disrupt the established hierarchy.
The 2026 SailGP Schedule
The 2026 season is the league’s most global to date, featuring new venues and iconic returns. The campaign kicks off in January with the 50th event in SailGP history.
17–18 Jan: Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix – Perth, Australia
14–15 Feb: ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix – Auckland, New Zealand
28 Feb–01 Mar: KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix – Sydney, Australia
11–12 Apr: Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
09–10 May: Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix – Bermuda
30–31 May: Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix – New York, USA
20–21 June: Canada Sail Grand Prix – Halifax, Canada
July (TBC): Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix – Portsmouth, UK
12–13 Sept: Rockwool France Sail Grand Prix – Saint-Tropez, France
Sept/Oct (TBC): European Sail Grand Prix – TBC (Europe)
21–22 Nov: Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by DP World – Dubai, UAE
28–29 Nov: Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix (2026 Season Grand Final)
How to watch SailGP
The 2026 season is broadcast in over 200 territories. In the UK, fans can follow the action on TNT Sports, while US viewers can tune in via CBS. All races are also streamed live on the SailGP YouTube channel
How the Brits won SailGP: Dylan Fletcher’s full debrief
“If someone gave you a lottery ticket with a 33 % chance of winning $2m, you’d snap their hand off!” said Dylan Fletcher, helmsman of the Emirates Great Britain Team…
Outteridge back in SailGP as Sweden become 13th nation to join foiling league
Nathan Outteridge, undisputedly one of the best foiling sailors of his generation, is re-entering SailGP as helmsman for the newly announced Swedish Artemis Racing team. The Swedish Artemis entry becomes…
Sail GP Portsmouth set for full-on Solent ‘obstacle course’
The hotly anticipated British leg of the SailGP circuit, the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth, takes place this weekend from 19-20 July. Twelve F50s will be racing…
Roger Federer featured in SailGP docuseries ‘Racing on the Edge’
In the latest episode of SailGP docuseries Racing on the Edge, tennis champion and sporting icon Roger Federer trades sporting wisdom with Swiss SailGP driver Sébastien Schneiter. Produced in partnership…
Can battery powered boats really be called sailing boats? – Matt Sheahan
If you ride an e-bike you’ll be used to being called a cheat. You’ll also be familiar with the way opinion has polarised in the cycling world on their benefits…
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds new co-owners of Australia’s SailGP team
With Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as its new co-owners and Australian underwear brand Bonds as a brand-spanking new sponsor, the Australian SailGP team is set to take centre stage.…
British star, Dylan Fletcher on jumping straight to the top of the SailGP leaderboard
SailGP is about to kick off a US double-header, with back to back events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, starting in LA this weekend (March 15-16). Currently topping the…
Ben Ainslie to step down as SailGP team skipper
Sir Ben Ainslie has announced he is stepping down as Driver of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team. Ainslie will continue his role as CEO of Emirates GBR but will…
F1 star Sebastian Vettel backs new German SailGP team
Four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel and double Olympic sailing bronze medallist Erik Heil have joined forces, alongside team owner Thomas Riedel, to announce a brand new German SailGP Team.…
SailGP: Third win of the season for Burling’s Kiwi crew
In a gutsy and impressive performance New Zealand defied the odds to win the Singapore SailGP. The win cements Peter Burling’s position as the main threat to Tom Slingsby’s charge…
Burling and Co finally pick up a win in SailGP
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke alongside their kiwi crew, including new tactician, Jo Aleh have taken victory in the British SailGP regatta in Plymouth in impressive style finishing first or…
Inside SailGP: what next for sailing’s greatest show?
‘Box office stuff’ is how Ben Ainslie described the opening day of last month’s SailGP event, in Chicago, USA. And truly, it was: the sun shone, the wind blew, the…
How to watch the Great Britain SailGP in Plymouth
The foiling F50 catamarans will be heading to Plymouth for the Great Britain SailGP in one week’s time, from July 30-31, and there’s still time for British and visiting fans…
Australia win SailGP Chicago, but Canadians surprise
‘A box office show’ is how Ben Ainslie described the US SailGP venue at Navy Pier Chicago, this weekend. It’s hard to imagine a better venue for Larry Ellison and…
Is fresh water or salt water faster to sail in? SailGP teams find out in Chicago
Do you sail faster in fresh water or salt water? It’s a question you’ve probably never had to ask yourself, but it’s one the SailGP teams in Chicago this weekend…
Sail GP runs out of boats: Outteridge grounded for start of season 3
In a bizarre symptom of the rapid growth of the SailGP circuit, one of the event’s top teams – Team Japan, skippered by Nathan Outteridge – is stuck ashore as…
Tom Slingsby signs up with American Magic for AC37
Australian sailor Tom Slingsby has signed with the American Magic team for the 37th America’s Cup. Slingsby, who has won Olympic Gold in the Laser class, the 2013 America’s Cup…
Slingsby and Co win SailGP Season 2
Tom Slingsby’s Australian team have won the second season of SailGP, picking up the $1m prize purse for the second season running in what was a chaotic day on the…
SailGP: $1 million purse up for grabs in San Fran
Season 2 of SailGP is set to draw to a close this weekend as the eight competing teams, sailing their foiling F50s, line up for the SailGP Final in San…