A new Atlantic home for The Ocean Race: Landmark Porto partnership runs through 2040

The Ocean Race, the iconic ocean racing event and one of the toughest tests of a team in international sport, will begin a new chapter in Portugal, with Porto set to become the long-term global headquarters, and start port for the Round the World race through 2040.

The landmark partnership with the City of Porto, Turismo de Portugal and Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal will bring together top-level ocean racing, world-class infrastructure, ocean science, education and international action for ocean health with a permanent base for The Ocean Race global headquarters on Portugal's Atlantic coast for the race and its growing global ocean platform.

Three editions of The Ocean Race Round the World are planned to start from Porto in 2030, 2034 and 2038, along with a Special Race taking place in Porto in 2028, and a wider programme of international sailing and ocean activities across Portugal through 2040.

For sailors and teams, the partnership creates long-term certainty and a dedicated base on the Atlantic, with the vision to develop Porto into a world-class hub for the offshore racing industry.

For The Ocean Race, it provides a new home from which to continue to innovate ocean racing, building on its 53-year history, while expanding its work to protect and restore the health of the ocean.

“We want to inspire the world to achieve the extraordinary and in Porto we welcome a long-term partner who shares that purpose,” said Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race. “Porto and Portugal have a deep maritime identity, a powerful connection to the Atlantic and an increasingly important role in sport, science, innovation and the blue economy.

“We are excited to build a future in Porto, a future that will serve our sailors, teams and partners, strengthen our sport and, most importantly, help us do more for the ocean.”

A new headquarters for The Ocean Race on the Atlantic
An historic waterfront building in Porto, right on the beach in front of Porto City Park, will be transformed into the operational headquarters of The Ocean Race, with associated public and educational activities planned to begin from 2028, including a special racing event.

The project will also include a new Museum in another waterfront location in Porto, creating a permanent public space to learn about the critical role the ocean plays in all of our lives, while celebrating the historic legacy and bright future of The Ocean Race and the legendary sailors and teams who made their mark on this iconic ocean racing event, as well as promoting the storied maritime heritage of Portugal.

With this, the new partnership goes beyond creating a headquarters. Porto will become a meeting point for sailors, teams, scientists, educators, innovators, policymakers and the wider international ocean community.

Portugal: a platform for ocean sport and ocean health
The partnership will extend beyond Porto. Working with Turismo de Portugal and regional partners, The Ocean Race will connect Porto with other coastal communities across the country, creating a national platform for international sailing, ocean science, education, sustainability and blue economy.

Beyond the Special Race in 2028 and the start of three editions of The Ocean Race Round the World (2030, 2034 and 2038), all of them taking place in Porto, Portugal will host at least six more international sailing events (The Ocean Race Europe) over the next 13 years, alongside The Ocean Race Summits and programmes focused on ocean science, literacy and education.

The partnership will strengthen Portugal's position as a destination for major international sporting events while showcasing the country's Atlantic identity and growing leadership in the blue economy.

“With Porto at the heart of this partnership, and with the whole country involved, we can share Portugal's Atlantic identity with audiences around the world,” said Pedro Machado, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services. “At the same time, we can strengthen our position in nautical tourism and major international events while creating new connections between sport, science, innovation and the ocean economy.”

“The partnership with The Ocean Race is a defining step in Portugal’s global positioning. It reflects our ambition to lead at the intersection of tourism, sustainability and the ocean, and to anchor the country at the centre of the international blue economy agenda. By bringing together global visibility, high-value audiences and a long-term legacy project, this collaboration not only elevates Portugal’s international profile, but also reinforces our capacity to attract investment, talent and sustainable tourism, securing lasting impact well beyond the event itself,” added Carlos Abade, President of Turismo de Portugal.

And Luís Pedro Martins, the President of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal noted: “From Porto you reach a vast Atlantic territory where the ocean is not just a coastline, but a connected system of nature, knowledge, innovation and communities. The North of Portugal brings scale to this partnership and creates a unique environment for The Ocean Race to grow over time with the ocean at the centre of the story.”

A new home for ocean racing
The partnership creates an opportunity to establish Porto as a European base for ocean sailing, with a shared vision to support infrastructure that will attract sailors, teams and the wider ocean racing industry to the Atlantic coastal city.

For Portuguese sailors, the world's most iconic ocean racing events will soon be at their doorstep.

“For someone like me, who grew up sailing on these waters, this is incredibly special,” said Mariana Lobato, the accomplished Portuguese sailor who co-skippered the United by the Ocean Team to victory in The Ocean Race Atlantic earlier this year:

“To have The Ocean Race establishing such a long-term presence in Portugal, on the Atlantic Ocean where so many of us learned to sail, is something we can be proud of and it gives the next generation of Portuguese sailors the chance to see the world's best teams up close, to train and compete here, and to imagine finding a way to take on the world's toughest offshore races.”

A new chapter opens in Porto
For Porto, the partnership builds on a centuries-old relationship with the ocean while opening the city to a new generation of international sporting, scientific and cultural connections.

“Porto has always been shaped by its relationship with the ocean. The Atlantic is part of our history and our identity, but increasingly it is also part of our future,” said Pedro Duarte, Mayor of Porto.

“Bringing The Ocean Race headquarters to Porto is an important commitment, but this project is about much more than a headquarters or a sporting event. It is an opportunity to create a lasting platform for science, innovation, education, tourism and ocean health, while opening Porto even further to the world. Porto will become a meeting point between the city and the global ocean community. We want its legacy to be felt across our city, across Portugal and by generations to come.”

Racing for the Ocean
The Ocean Race has been building connections and inspiring respect for the ocean since its first edition in 1973.

Today, through its award-winning Racing for the Ocean programme, the organisation works with scientists, educators, governments, businesses, athletes and international organisations to advance knowledge and drive action for a healthier ocean.

The work includes ocean science, education and ocean literacy, advocacy for ocean rights, and using the global reach and sporting platform of The Ocean Race, its teams and sailors to bring ocean issues to audiences around the world.

The new Porto partnership provides a long-term base from which this work can grow and The Ocean Race Summit Porto, scheduled for 19 November 2026, will be an early milestone in that relationship, bringing together international voices to focus on the future health of the ocean.

The road to 2027
The next edition of The Ocean Race around the world will start on 17 January 2027 from Alicante, Spain, marking a record-breaking sixth consecutive edition that starts from the city.

Alicante will play a significant role in the future of The Ocean Race, both on and off the water. Further details of an exciting new collaboration between The Ocean Race and Alicante will be announced ahead of the 2027 start.