Around Sydney
Varies
Sailing obsessives, speed demons and sunset enthusiasts, listen up. The world’s fastest sailing race – the Sail Grand Prix – is returning to the Harbour City for 2026, and this time it’s levelling up the cinematic value. For the first time in Rolex SailGP Championship history, the spectacle is going twilight – with super-fast foiling action lighting up Sydney Harbour for two adrenaline-fuelled nights on the last weekend of February.
Now in its seventh consecutive year, Sydney remains SailGP’s longest-running stop – and honestly, it’s hard to imagine a better stage. Picture the world’s largest SailGP fleet ever assembled flying across the water in colourful catamarans just metres from shore, as the late summer sun melts behind the city skyline.
Not sold yet on the idea of watching a boat race? I hear you – as a sailing novice and a card-carrying F1-skeptic, it took a trip to the Auckland event for me to truly understand the appeal of the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, but I can wholeheartedly say it’s one of the most exciting, impressive sporting events you will ever witness. One of the things that makes SailGP races so addictive is how close you can get to the action, and never more so than in Sydney. Here, racing unfolds right across the harbour, with various vantage points turning the city into a giant grandstand. The mixed-gender teams are wildly athletic, and the fact that the Aussies happen to be consistently high-achievers (winning the first three championships, and coming third in 2025) keeps the energy high for an Australian crowd. Plus, unlike a lot of racing sports, KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix has some seriously impressive sustainability creds, so you don’t have to feel morally conflicted while you get your adrenaline kicks.
Ticket options for this year’s event range from elevated picnic spots to all-out yacht-based luxury. You can post up on Shark Island with Waterfront Premium or Platinum packages (front-row views of the race, gourmet snacks, flowing drinks and DJs setting the tone), or take things offshore with Official Spectator Boats, floating right inside the exclusion zone with live commentary and hospitality. Got your own boat? The BYOB option secures you a front-row seat on your own terms. There’s even a Dockside opening night with live DJs, athlete appearances and behind-the-scenes access for those who want to see how the magic is made.
On the water, all eyes will be on hometown heroes Tom Slingsby and the Flying Roos, who will be racing in front of a home crowd that knows how to bring the noise. As the third stop in the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, with an all-new twilight format, Sydney’s round promises world-class racing with a distinctly Aussie edge.
Racing will take place on Saturday, February 28 until Sunday, March 1, 2026. You can learn more and check out ticket options over here.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.