The Bay of Naples is preparing to become, for the first time in history, the stage for the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport. The main event is set for 2027, but Naples is already getting a taste of the competition with the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta, scheduled from 24 to 27 September 2026 in the Gulf of Naples.
What is the Naples Preliminary Regatta
Following the first stop held in Cagliari, the Road to Naples 2027 moves to the Campania capital for the second Preliminary Regatta of the cycle. Nine international teams will compete aboard AC40 foiling monohulls, the smaller “sister boats” of the powerful AC75s that will take centre stage at the main event.
The schedule includes four days of racing: Thursday 24 September opens with the Official Practice Day, while fleet racing gets underway from Friday 25 September, leading up to the final day on Sunday 27 September, which closes with a winner-takes-all match race between the top two teams.
While it does not affect the overall standings of the 38th America’s Cup, which will take place in Naples in 2027, the regatta is a crucial testing ground for the crews: a chance to assess the racecourse conditions and fine-tune strategies and crew combinations ahead of the main event.
A preview of the 2027 event
The september 2026 Preliminary Regatta is far more than a simple stop on the sailing calendar: it is a full dress rehearsal for the organisational machine that will carry Naples through to 2027, when the city will host the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup Match from 22 May to 4 July. On that occasion, seven teams will battle for the right to challenge the defender across the Round Robins, semifinals and final.
The Naples seafront, with Via Francesco Caracciolo offering a prime vantage point, will host the free-entry Race Village, featuring dock-out and dock-in shows, food and drink areas, and official merchandise. Thousands of fans and visitors will be able to follow the races for free from numerous scenic spots overlooking one of the most spectacular gulfs in the world, with Mount Vesuvius as the natural backdrop to the foiling boats.
Experiencing the Regatta from the sea
Those who want to experience the America’s Cup in a truly special way can do so not only from the shore, but directly from the water. Virada Experience organises boat trips to watch the Naples Preliminary Regatta and, later, the America’s Cup 2027 itself, aboard its own fleet. Watching the AC40s foil past just metres away, with Naples and Vesuvius as the backdrop, offers an emotion impossible to match from land: the sound of the foils, the speed of the boats and the adrenaline of the racecourse feel completely different when experienced from within the very waters where the race unfolds.
The boat trips organised by Virada Experience combine the thrill of top-level sailing with the beauty of the Gulf of Naples, offering an experience that blends sport, scenery and entertainment into one unforgettable day. It is an exclusive way for sailing enthusiasts, and for anyone curious about the America’s Cup, to enjoy the event from a privileged perspective, away from the crowds on the seafront and right in the middle of the action.
Naples, world capital of sailing
With the september 2026 Preliminary Regatta and the 2027 America’s Cup Match, Naples is confirming its role as a leading protagonist on the international sailing scene. Ongoing infrastructure work in Bagnoli and the central role given to Nisida reflect the city’s commitment to preparing for an event capable of generating positive returns for tourism, the economy and the local community.
For those wanting to experience this historic moment first-hand, the September 2026 appointment already offers a unique opportunity to soak up the America’s Cup atmosphere ahead of Italy’s grand debut in 2027. And for those wanting the most immersive experience possible, the Virada Experience fleet is ready to set sail into the heart of the action.