The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Naples (PR2) continues the journey on the ‘Road to Naples 2027’ with the host venue offering a spectacular regatta in the Bay of Naples from the 24 – 27th September 2026.
This fabulous ‘city on the sea’ will come alive to the sights, sounds and action right in the Bay with plenty of premium viewing spots for everyone.
The Race Village will be the centre of the action with dock-out and dock-in shows on the main stage and live broadcasts on giant screens will keep fans immersed in the Cup world. Food and drink concessions, plus the ever-popular merchandise store will be open and entry is completely free to all.
For the teams of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, Naples PR2 is the final opportunity to dial in their racing skills and establish the pecking order ahead of the main event next year in 2027.
Sailing fully equalised ‘one-design’ AC40 yachts capable of speeds in excess of 45+ knots, the racing will be fast and furious as the yachts sail against each other in a series of eight fleet races – three races every afternoon from 2pm CEST in quick fire succession. After the fleet racing, the scores are tallied and the two boats with the highest score go through to the one-race, two boat final.
It’s winner-take-all in a competition that is famous for: ‘There is no Second.’
RACE VILLAGE
RACE VILLAGE
Situated in Rotonda Diaz (also known as Mappatella Beach) as the centre-piece for the main stage, the Race Village that stretches out along the Via Francesco Caracciolo that will be closed to traffic, is the beating heart of the Naples Prelim Regatta.
Every race day, there will be a dock-out show, sailor presentations, interviews, and local entertainers performing. At the conclusion of racing, the always popular dock-in show recaps the day, and the winners will be on hand to greet the audience and explain how the day went. It’s a chance to meet the sailing superstars of the America’s Cup and get a rare insight into their campaigns.
During racing, large screens will broadcast all the action live from the racecourse with full commentary and analysis. Within the Race Village there will be plenty of food and drink options for fans whilst the merchandise store offers a full range of team and event regalia to satisfy every taste and budget.
The Race Village is free to enter for everyone and is the perfect place to get together with family and friends and be a part of the ‘Road to Naples’ and the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.
The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Sardinia did not affect the overall standings for the main event in Naples in 2027, yet all teams were eyeing glory to build racing momentum into their campaigns as well as an early psychological advantage.
Sailing this first regatta of the new cycle in fully equalised AC40 yachts, the pocket-rocket little brothers and sisters to the mighty AC75s, the teams of four per boat (two helms, two trimmers), completed up to eight fleet races to decide the final two, who faced off in a match-race to crown the winner.
Uniquely for this Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup cycle, teams were permitted to enter a second AC40 yacht crewed by members of their Women & Youth teams. The Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, the Challenger of Record GB1 and the Italian Challenger Luna Rossa all fielded two teams for Sardinia. Tudor Team Alinghi and La Roche-Posay Racing Team sent just one team to the regatta, making the fleet eight-strong in total.
Sunday 27th September: Up to 2 fleet races before the ‘Match-Race’ Final between the top two boats after 8 scheduled fleet races
Watch on Water
WATCH ON WATER
If you and your boat would like to watch the Preliminary Regatta in Naples from the water, please complete the form below and send us full details of your boat. We will soon be posted full details of race courses and spectator viewing zones but you can register now to receive full details as plans for the event get finalized.
Naples is a vibrant and historic southern Italian city bursting with energy and is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Greek settlers built it over 2,500 years ago. It is the true birthplace of pizza and sits on the edge of the glistening and challenging Bay of Naples on the Mediterranean Sea, right next to the famous Mount Vesuvius volcano. Winding ancient, cobbled streets, grand palaces, and stunning art and sculptures hide around every corner, and the Naples National Archaeological Museum holds some of the best ancient Roman statues and treasures on earth.
To look out from Naples is a feast for the eyes with Mount Vesuvius dominating to one side whilst the stunning islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida sit invitingly offshore and await your discovery. For history lovers, a visit to Pompeii is a must – the Roman city that was frozen in time by volcanic ash is not to be missed. Equally the Duomo, the outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Cathedral, built in the 13th and 14th centuries is a must-see with its unique architecture that blends both Gothic and Renaissance styles and houses the Chapel of San Gennaro honouring the city's patron Saint.
No visit to Naples is complete without sampling the cuisine that the region is famous for, and there is something for budget and taste. Lively restaurants with colourful and expressive waiters can be found on every street and of course, the pizza is out of this world. The classic Neapolitan pizza is so special that its preparation is a protected cultural treasure and is made with just a few fresh ingredients: wheat dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil. You simply have to have one in Naples!
One of the striking things about the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup racecourse is that at one end is the Castel dell Ovo, one of the most historic sites in Italy and the place where Virgil’s remains can be found. Legend has it that the famous poet put a magical egg into the foundations to support the fortifications. It remains there along with his bones, and had this egg been broken, the castle would have been destroyed and a series of disastrous events for Naples would have followed.
Today, the Castel dell Ovo is the perfect place to start a remarkable tour to take in the three castles of Naples and is a fabulous way to explore the city. Walk up to the Castel Nuovo (about 20 minutes away) and then on to the Castle Sant Elmo high on Vomero Hill with breathtaking views of the city below and out across the Bay of Naples. On the way down, don’t forget to stop and admire the Piazza del Plebiscito and the grand Royal Palace right in the heart of the city – and the exact area that hosted the Pope on his recent visit in 2026.
Naples has so much to explore and enjoy. It’s truly one of the most vibrant and inspiring places on earth and the perfect venue for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup. Be there.
Media Accreditation
MEDIA ACCREDITATION NAPLES
Welcome to the media accreditation system formedia wishing to attend the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Naples 24-27 September 2026.
Please read carefully before starting the accreditation process. These forms are intended only for professional media with proven distribution wishing to attend and cover the event in Naples in September 2026 and is valid exclusively for this event. Freelance writers and photographers must provide proof of assignment. All applications for accreditation will be reviewed and replied to in due course. Accreditations will be open until 20 September 2026.
If you are not planning to attend the event but wish to follow/cover it, you can sign up to press releases here and apply for access to the Media Hub for images here.
If your work is related to the communication work of a stakeholder, entity, institution, company or partner connected with the America’s Cup, you will need another type of accreditation; if you’re unsure of what type of accreditation you may need please contact accreditation@americascup.com.
Please note: If you attended the Prelim 1 in Sardinia, your details may already be registered on the system. Please login with your email address and review the form and continue with the process.
