It’s time for another sailing ship extravaganza for young and old when Stavanger in July 2026 once again hosts the Tall Ships Races – one of the world’s largest sailing regattas.
Here from the closure fireworks during Tall Ships Races Stavanger in 2018.
The Stavanger event will take place from Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 July 2026.
“For a city located by the sea, it is a great honour to be awarded this event again. Shipping and sailing ships are an important part of the city’s history and identity and we have long-standing maritime traditions. It is particularly pleasant that we, for the first time, can welcome ships from all over the
world. It is also fitting that it happens right after Stavanger’s 900th anniversary in 2025,” mayor Kari Nessa Nordtun says.
The Tall Ships Races is the largest event held in Rogaland county, measured in the number of spectators.
“I am sure that this will be a great event with an exciting program for all age groups and provide memorable experiences. And it’s happening right in the heart of Stavanger,” the mayor states.
The entire region included
Stavanger was a Tall Ships Races host port in 2018, and the city previously hosted the event in 1997, 2004 and 2011. All have been very successful events both for visiting ships and crews and for the whole Stavanger region.
“We aim to involve smaller ports throughout the region in 2026 too as we have long traditions for that,” Ms Nessa Nordtun emphasises.
Project manager already involved
Knud Helge Robberstad has been appointed project manager for the event and will take up his position from January 2024. He also held the role in 2018 and is currently advisor for business development and international affairs with the City of Stavanger.
“We will work to get the largest and most exciting tall ships to Stavanger in cooperation with the other 2026 host cities. And not least, we will work to give young people from our region the opportunity to sail in the races. It is particularly inspiring that there will be regattas both to and from
Stavanger this time. This creates moments of excitement and ignites the competitive spirit onboard the ships,” Mr Robberstad says.
Region Stavanger has been involved in the development of the BID document in close cooperation with the city of Stavanger.
What is The Tall Ships Races?
The Tall Ships Races are annual international regattas with the aim of developiing and educating youth (15-25 years) old through sailtraining, independent nationalities, culture, religion, sex or social background. At least half of the crew must be within that age group.
The organisation Sail Training International is the organisor of this sail ships regatta. In 2026 the ragatta starts in Aarhus in Denmark before the ships set sail for Harlingen (Holland), Antwerpen (Belgium), Stavanger and Aalborg (Denmark).
More information:
Sailtraining international
Norsk Seiltreningsalianse
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