5 Reasons To Be Excited For The 2026 Season
The new season is fast approaching – and there are already plenty of reasons to get excited!
Published 12/30/2025
If you're already counting down the days until the 2026 SailGP Season begins in Perth, there are plenty of reasons to be excited.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the sixth season of SailGP which gets underway in Australia on January 17 with the first-ever Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix...
1. New Team Joins The Fleet
Thirteen might be an unlucky number for some – but it clearly isn’t for SailGP!
That’s because Artemis, representing Sweden, will become the 13th member of the fleet for the 2026 Season.
Their participation was confirmed in the autumn with Olympic gold medalist and America’s Cup veteran Iain Percy leading the new team as CEO. There will be another familiar face in the cockpit, with former Japan driver Nathan Outteridge returning.
Nathan Outteridge (left) rejoins SailGP with Artemis SailGP Team, led by CEO Iain Percy (middle), pictured alongside SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts
Artemis has wasted no time assembling its roster for the 2026 Season, picking up Chris Draper from the BONDS Flying Roos as wing trimmer, New Zealand Black Foils flight controller Andy Maloney, and adding homegrown talent in strategist Julia Gross and grinder Julius Hallström.
Speaking after Artemis SailGP Team’s launch, CEO Percy said: “I’m proud to lead Artemis SailGP Team as we return to the global stage with a clear focus - leveraging cutting-edge technology, a world-class line-up, and the hard-won lessons from America’s Cup.
“SailGP is redefining the sport with unmatched speed, innovation, and fan engagement. Bringing Sweden into this elite championship is a milestone we’re proud of, and we’re determined to compete at the very highest level - pushing boundaries both on and off the water.”
2. New Venues For The New Season
The 2026 SailGP calendar is an exciting blend of the well established and the new, with two first-time venues debuting.
After being slated for an event that was unfortunately cancelled in May, Rio de Janeiro joins the schedule in 2026 to add some South American flavor for the first time. Before that, the season kicks off on January 17-18 in Perth, first-time hosts in Australia.
Bermuda and Halifax are back on the schedule, too, after a year off. There are also returns to Sydney, Auckland, New York, Portsmouth, Sassnitz, Dubai and Abu Dhabi to look forward to.
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said: “Return venues are a pivotal aspect of SailGP's ongoing global expansion, as we strengthen our connection to new and emerging audiences.
“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.”
3. Renewed Rivalries Throughout The Fleet
The newly-introduced Athlete Transfer Framework has created an off-season like no other since the 2025 SailGP Season wrapped up in Abu Dhabi at the end of November.
High-profile moves throughout the fleet have shaken things up and should ensure an enthralling season lies in wait. With the aforementioned Draper vacating the wing trimmer’s seat with the BONDS Flying Roos, Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen has left reigning Champions Emirates GBR to join his nation. That left a vacancy on Dylan Fletcher’s crew, swiftly filled by Stuart Bithell, formerly of the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank.
Chris Draper, wing trimmer for the BONDS Flying Roos, has signed for Artemis SailGP Team ahead of the 2026 SailGP Season
The merry-go-round continued with France's Kevin Peponnet taking the job of wing trimmer for Germany. His seat on the French boat? Picked up by Brit Leigh McMillan.
Elsewhere, former U.S. SailGP Team grinder Alex Sinclair has left Red Bull Italy, switching to NorthStar Canada. The Italians made moves prior to the final event of 2025, replacing Ruggero Tita with ex-NorthStar Canada driver Phil Robertson.
There are narratives woven throughout the fleet. It’s about to get even more interesting…
4. Innovation Continues At Full Speed
One thing you can guarantee about SailGP is it never stands still – unsurprising when you’re foiling at more than 60mph!
In 2025, we saw new, faster, lighter T-foils introduced at the season’s start and the season ended with a brand-new 27.5m wing added to the options teams can utilize for the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.
Going forward, teams will have the 18m, 24m, 27.5m and 29m wings at their disposal at each event, as well as the various different foil and rudder packages.
But you can bet your bottom dollar the innovation won’t stop there as the most technologically advanced fleet in sailing continues to break new ground - or water - in its sixth season!
5. All To Play For!
The 2025 SailGP Season was arguably the most open yet. We saw eight winners at 12 events, including first-time event winners in ROCKWOOL Denmark and Germany Deutsche Bank.
Capping it all off were Emirates GBR, becoming the third different winners of the Rolex SailGP Championship in five seasons. The BONDS Flying Roos might be three-time Champions, but Tom Slingsby’s crew face fierce competition if they’re to reclaim their crown.
READ MORE: THE KEY FACTS AND FIGURES FROM SAILGP IN 2025
Germany SailGP Team were one of the fleet’s strongest in the back half of last season, while France and Los Gallos were both a couple of strong events short of forcing their way into the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.
And don’t expect Artemis SailGP Team to be happy making up the numbers – they’ve invested in star power, while Sweden’s proud sailing heritage means hopes are high.
Before an F50 has hit the water, it’s safe to say you wouldn’t want to call the 2026 SailGP Season just yet!
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