Porto will host The Ocean Race starting in 2028 and will serve as the starting port for the next three editions of the round-the-world race, in 2030, 2034, and 2038. The agreement, signed with the city, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, establishes a permanent base on Portugal’s Atlantic coast and will remain in effect until 2040.
In addition to the round-the-world races, the project includes a Special Regatta in 2028 and an extensive program of international activities related to sailing, ocean innovation, sustainability, and the blue economy. For teams and sailors, this means long-term stability and a dedicated Atlantic base, with the goal of making Porto a world-class hub for the ocean sailing industry.
“We want to inspire the world to achieve the extraordinary, and in Porto we welcome a long-term strategic partner that shares that purpose,” says Richard Brisius, president of The Ocean Race. “Porto and Portugal have a deep-rooted maritime identity, a powerful connection to the Atlantic, and an increasingly important role in sports, science, innovation, and the blue economy. We are excited to build a future in Porto—a future that will serve our sailors, teams, and partners, strengthen our sport, and, above all, allow us to do more for the ocean.”
A seaside location and a new museum
The new operational headquarters will be located in a historic building in Porto, next to the beach and across from Parque da Cidade do Porto. The associated public and educational activities will begin in 2028, coinciding with the Special Regatta. The project also includes a seaside museum, designed as a permanent space to educate the public about the essential role of the ocean, celebrate the regatta’s legacy, and highlight Portugal’s maritime tradition.
Through this partnership, Porto aims to become a hub for sailors, teams, scientists, educators, innovators, policymakers, and the international community connected to the ocean. The agreement will strengthen the Racing for the Ocean program, the race’s platform for scientific research and outreach, whose first milestone will be The Ocean Race Summit Porto, scheduled for November 19, 2026.
A platform for all of Portugal
The agreement will not be limited to the city. In partnership with Turismo de Portugal and regional partners, The Ocean Race will connect the new host city with other coastal communities across the country, creating a national platform for international sailing, ocean science, education, sustainability, and the blue economy. Portugal will host at least six editions of The Ocean Race Europe over the next 13 years, in addition to international summits and programs focused on ocean culture.
Pedro Machado, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade, and Services, highlights the scope of the project: “With Porto at the heart of this agreement and with the involvement of the entire country, we can share Portugal’s Atlantic identity with audiences around the world. At the same time, we can strengthen our position in nautical tourism and major international events, creating new connections between sports, science, innovation, and the ocean economy.”
Carlos Abade, president of Turismo de Portugal, considers the partnership “a decisive step in Portugal’s global positioning.” In his view, it reflects the country’s ambition to lead at the intersection of tourism, sustainability, and the ocean, and strengthens its ability to attract investment, talent, and sustainable tourism with a lasting impact beyond the event itself.
Luís Pedro Martins, president of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, highlights the significance of the country’s northern region: “From Porto, you have access to a vast Atlantic territory where the ocean is not just a coastline, but an interconnected system of nature, knowledge, innovation, and communities.”
An Opportunity for Portuguese Sailing
Mariana Lobato, co-patron of United by The Ocean, the winning team of The Ocean Race Atlantic, highlights the symbolic and sporting significance of this new leg: “For someone like me, who grew up sailing in these waters, it’s incredibly special. That The Ocean Race is establishing such a long-term presence in Portugal, in the Atlantic Ocean where so many of us learned to sail, is something we can be proud of.”
The sailor also highlights the impact on younger generations, who will be able to see the world’s best teams up close, train and compete in Portuguese waters, and envision their own path to the most demanding ocean races on the planet.
For Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte, the agreement is part of the city’s historic relationship with the Atlantic. “Porto has always been shaped by its relationship with the ocean. The Atlantic is part of our history and our identity, but increasingly it is also part of our future,” he says. Bringing the regatta’s headquarters to the city “goes far beyond a venue or a sporting event,” he adds: it is an opportunity to create a lasting platform for science, innovation, education, tourism, and ocean health.
Alicante, Beyond 2027
As Porto embarks on this new chapter—The Ocean Race—the Valencian Regional Government and the Alicante City Council continue to work on the roadmap that will shape their relationship beyond the 2027 edition. That roadmap will be announced before the race starts on January 17.
“The Ocean Race family loves Alicante,” says Brisius. “We share a past and a present marked by tremendous success, and we are committed to continuing to build a bright future together. Our partnership has already been a fundamental part of The Ocean Race’s history for nearly 20 years. We maintain a relationship of full cooperation and collaboration with the Valencian Regional Government and the Alicante City Council, and together we are ushering in a New Era for this successful partnership, which all parties hope will continue well beyond the next race start in 2027. As we move forward with these agreements, we are working together to ensure that next January’s start is the best yet.”
On January 17, 2027, the fleet will set sail from Alicante for the sixth consecutive edition of the race that begins in the Valencian city. The start will be preceded by ten days of activities open to the public at Alicante’s Ocean Live Park, the hub of the public engagement program leading up to the start of the round-the-world race.
