The Tall Ships Races will be coming to Antwerp for the eighth time in 2026, with Ethias as the new main sponsor. Once again, a hundred young Belgians will be sailing as members of the ‘Antwerp Crew’. In addition, the organization is already looking for five ambassadors who will be able to participate in a sailing trip this summer.

The new edition of The Tall Ships Races in Antwerp is gradually getting closer. Next year, the impressive sailing ships will sail from Aarhus in Denmark to Harlingen in the Netherlands and then call at Antwerp in Belgium. 

From Antwerp, they will sail to Stavanger in Norway, to finally end up in Denmark again, in Aalborg. They will be moored in Antwerp from Saturday 11 July to Tuesday 14 July 2026.

Acting Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA): “As an Antwerp resident, we always look forward to the mooring of the overwhelmingly beautiful sailing ships in our city during The Tall Ship Races. Then we all feel a bit like captains. This crowd pleaser has also grown into a real Antwerp folk festival: no fewer than 850,000 visitors came on board at the 2022 edition. Antwerp is therefore blessed that we can once again be the setting for this spectacle in 2026 and 2030.” 

Alderman for the Port and chairman of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Johan Klaps (N-VA): “The reception of the Tall Ships Races also means being able to look back in a tangible way on what port life used to be like. As a board, we have the ambition to bring the port closer to the people of Antwerp. For years, the arrival of these almost magical ships has caused great enthusiasm and aroused curiosity for what is happening in the north of our city.”

The training ship and well-known participant in previous editions, the Polish three-master Dar Młodziezy, already gave a foretaste on 21 March when it moored at the cruise terminal along Het Steen. The sailing ship came to pick up 120 cadets from the Antwerp Maritime Academy, who will leave on Saturday for a four-week trip on the open sea, as part of their training.

Antwerp Crew 2026 and Ambassadors 2025

The arrival of The Tall Ships Races always highlights the rich maritime history and the intense bond between the city and the port. But equally important aspects are bringing young people (15 – 25 years) into contact with shipping, and generating a positive social impact. The Tall Ships Races promote mutual understanding between young people from different cultures and countries, and offer them personal development and experiences that they will carry with them for life through sailing training.

100 Belgian young people with a diverse background will also participate as members of the ‘Antwerp Crew’ in 2026. The recruitment campaign for this will start this autumn. These trainees will sail along during the trip from Harlingen to Antwerp or from Antwerp to Stavanger, and will conduct a fundraising campaign beforehand.

But first, the organization is already looking for five ambassadors who want to sail with The Tall Ships Races 2025, between Dunkirk in France and Aberdeen in Scotland in the United Kingdom, from 12 to 21 July. 

Five young people will have the chance to experience the adventure of a lifetime, share their story on social media and inspire other young people. There is a competition, because the trip in 2025 is offered to them completely free of charge by the City of Antwerp and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Candidates can register from Monday March 24 to Monday April 14 to have a chance to win this unique opportunity.​

Anchor Port

Due to the long and intense historical bond between The Tall Ships Races and Antwerp, the organiser Sail Training International (STI), the city of Antwerp and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges have jointly developed the concept of an ‘Anchor Port’, which means that Antwerp is already certain of receiving the ships in 2026 and 2030. In addition, the City of Antwerp and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges are committed to making the event visible and keeping it that way, also in the years that the Races do not call at Antwerp as a stopover. 

This is done by means of an ongoing sail training programme in collaboration with maritime partners, and by receiving several tall ships as a ‘friendly host port’.

Organisation and sponsors

The Tall Ships Races Antwerp are organised by the city of Antwerp and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges under the umbrella of Sail Training International (STI), and developed by the events agency Balthazar Events. STI is the leading organiser and supplier of races, events, conferences, seminars, publications, research and other services for the international sailing training community. One of the founding members of STI is Sail Training Association Belgium, the umbrella sailing organization of Belgium and partner of The Tall Ships Races Antwerp.

This event is made possible thanks to numerous sponsors and partners who contribute, with the new main sponsor being Ethias. ​Additional sponsors and partners who want to support The Tall Ships Races Antwerp and the trainee program can always contact the organization.

Information about The Tall Ships Races Antwerp 2026 can already be found on https://tallships.antwerpen.be/, as well as the calls for ambassadors and trainees, sponsors and partners.