Weymouth to host first-ever iQFOiL World Championships in UK

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has announced that the UK will host the 2026 iQFOiL World Championship, which will take place at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy from 21 to 26 September 2026. 

The event will bring around 250 of the world’s top Olympic windsurfing athletes to UK waters, marking the first time Britain has staged a major championship in the class and the first Olympic windsurfing world championship on home waters since 2009. 

Great Britain will head into the event as defending champions in both the men’s and women’s fleets, following gold medal performances from Emma Wilson and Andy Brown at the 2025 Worlds in Aarhus, Denmark, last week. 

Double Olympic medallist and 2025 World Champion Emma Wilson comments: “We have a big squad in the UK, all training every day, so for us to show our home to everyone else, I think it’ll be really cool and it’s probably one of the best places to iQFOiL in my opinion!”

Introduced for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the iQFOiL class has quickly gained traction for its high-speed hydrofoil racing format, with boards reaching speeds of up to 35 knots. As part of this ongoing drive to develop the next generation of high-performance sailors, Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy will also be home to one of the four new British Sailing Talent Academies from the RYA. 

RYA CEO Sara Sutcliffe says: “We’re thrilled to be hosting the iQFOiL World Championship in Weymouth & Portland – the home of the British Sailing Team – as we look ahead to the LA 2028 Olympic Games. 

“The 2026 Worlds will be a fantastic opportunity to see our top athletes compete with the very best on home waters, help develop emerging talent, and spark new interest in watersports and the marine environment among local young people.” 

Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, class manager for the iQFOiL, says: “It’s great to go to Weymouth & Portland, a well-known and appreciated venue with a strong track record of hosting major events like World Championships and the Olympic Games in 2012. 

“The conditions are excellent and very diverse, with flat water inside the harbour and more open, challenging conditions outside, offering a great range to properly test the sailors, as a World’s should. The iQFOiL community has been strong from the very beginning in the UK, both in Youth & Junior and Senior fleets, and it’s great to bring a major championship to support the area and its sailing legacy and inspire the younger generations.”

Backed by UK Sport through National Lottery funding, the RYA will deliver the event in partnership with the iQFOiL Class, Dorset Council and WPNSA. The 2026 Worlds form part of the RYA’s strategy to secure a major international championship for UK shores in every Olympic cycle.

The 2026 World Championship is also expected to deliver a broad social impact programme, providing opportunities for local youth engagement, watersports participation, and environmental education initiatives focused on the area’s coastline and marine habitats.

Racing will culminate in a knockout final on Saturday, 26 September 2026, held in front of a harbourside Race Village and streamed live online.