Organiser Sail Training International announced the dates for The Tall Ships Races 2026. Antwerp will once again welcome the imposing Tall Ships from Saturday, July 11 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026. 

The City of Antwerp and Port of Antwerp-Bruges have a long history with The Tall Ships Races and this world-famous sailing competition will also serve Antwerp as Anchor Port in 2026 and 2030. In between the races, the city receives a few Tall Ships as a ‘friendly host port’.

Antwerp has a rich history with The Tall Ships Races. The international sailing competition will visit Antwerp for the eighth time in 2026: after passages in 1993, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2016, hundreds of thousands of visitors came to marvel at the cathedrals of the sea in the summer of 2022. 

The city is now officially a so-called Anchor Port and will once again form the backdrop for this world-famous sailing competition from Saturday 11 July to Tuesday 14 July 2026.

Other host cities for the 2026 edition are Aarhus and Aalborg in Denmark, Harlingen in the Netherlands and Stavanger in Norway.

Trainees

The city will again recruit trainees for the 2026 edition, who will sail along during one of the two stages from Harlingen to Antwerp or from Antwerp to Stavanger. 

With this initiative, the City and Port of Antwerp-Bruges are committed to promoting mutual understanding between young people from different cultures and countries, and through sailing training they offer them personal development and experiences that they will carry with them for life.

Anchor Port

Organizer Sail Training International (STI), the city of Antwerp and Port of Antwerp-Bruges worked together to develop the concept of an Anchor Port, which provides a win-win situation for all parties. By hosting the sailing competition in future editions as a host city, the city and Port of Antwerp-Bruges will continue to focus on the long and intense historical relationship between The Tall Ships Races and Antwerp.

Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) “Antwerp carries the cathedrals of the sea in its soul. Thanks to The Tall Ships Races, our rich maritime history flows effortlessly into the story of the second largest port in Europe, of which our city can be really proud. That is why I am I am particularly honored that Antwerp will become an Anchor Port for this wonderful event, which will also delight hundreds of thousands of spectators in the coming editions in 2026 and 2030.”

Harbour alderman Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “This is very good news for all fans of The Tall Ships Races and certainly for all Antwerp residents. Because as Anchor Port we put our maritime history and position as a world port in the spotlight. As the 2022 edition proved, this is the event in which we all celebrate the bond between Scheldt and city with, as befits a world port; starring the most beautiful sailing ships in the world. We are already looking forward to the next edition in 2026!”

Alan James, CEO of Tall Ships Races International Ltd said: “We are delighted to confirm the host ports of The Tall Ships Races 2026. The ports of Aarhus, Harlingen, Antwerp, Stavanger and Aalborg have jointly hosted more than 20 editions of The Tall Ships Races organized. With this rich and historic legacy, we are confident that they will all welcome back the Tall Ships fleet with a spirit of adventure, and a commitment to our core values of youth development, international friendship and understanding.”

Friendly host port

In between the races, the City of Antwerp and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, in collaboration with the maritime partners, are committed to making and keeping the event visible through an ongoing Sail Training program and the city acts as a ‘friendly host port’. 

She regularly receives imposing Tall Ships, such as the Alexander Von Humboldt II and the Dar Młodziezy.

2023 and 2024

In 2023, The Tall Ships Races sail to the Netherlands, Norway and England. In 2024 to Latvia, Finland, Estonia and Poland.