America’s Cup Fires the Starting Gun: Cagliari Confirmed as Opening Preliminary Regatta Venue

The road to the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup is no longer theoretical.

It now has a date, a place, and a starting line.

The Region of Sardinia and the City of Cagliari have been officially confirmed as the first Host Venue for the opening Preliminary Regatta of the America’s Cup cycle — a four-day foiling showdown scheduled for 21–24 May 2026 in the Gulf of Angels.

This is where the Road to Naples begins.

America’s Cup Event confirmed the announcement, locking Sardinia into the competitive calendar and giving the AC40 fleet its first true battleground of the 38th cycle.

Quick Hull Check | The Setup | The Moment | Foil Nerd Corner | How We Got Here | Dock Talk | What Happens Next | The Last Wake

Quick Hull Check

• Cagliari will host the first Preliminary Regatta of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup
• Racing will take place in the Gulf of Angels, off the Port of Cagliari
• The regatta is scheduled for 21–24 May 2026
• Five teams are currently entered
• Each team may race up to two one-design foiling AC40s
• One AC40 per team will be dedicated to Women’s and Youth America’s Cup crews
• The event opens the official pathway to Naples 2027

The Setup

This isn’t a ceremonial opener.

The first Preliminary Regatta is where the America’s Cup cycle actually starts to show its teeth. For the first time, teams will line up head-to-head in identical AC40s, under pressure, with points, rankings, and reputations on the line.

The venue matters — and Cagliari is a deliberate choice.

The Gulf of Angels offers a rare mix of reliable breeze, manageable sea state, and shore-side visibility. It’s a racecourse that rewards clean takeoffs, stable ride height, and disciplined foil control.

No hiding. No excuses.

The Moment

The announcement landed in Cagliari’s cruise terminal — symbolically, right at the interface between city, sea, and international exposure.

Promoted and funded by the Tourism Department of the Region of Sardinia, and delivered in collaboration with America’s Cup Event, the Italian Government, and Sport e Salute, the message was clear.

Italy isn’t just hosting the Cup. Italy is launching it.

From Sardinia, the cycle rolls forward toward the main event in Naples, scheduled between May and July 2027.

Foil Nerd Corner

The boats matter here.

The Preliminary Regatta will be sailed in AC40s — one-design foiling monohulls designed to replicate the flight dynamics of the AC75s at a tighter, sharper scale.

A hydrofoil, in simple terms, is an underwater wing that lifts the hull out of the water. Less hull in the water means less drag — and more speed.

In Cagliari, that lift has to be managed precisely. Too low and you pay with touchdowns. Too high and you risk ventilation — when air gets sucked down the foil and steals grip.

This venue exposes who has control — and who’s still chasing it.

How We Got Here

Cagliari’s selection didn’t happen overnight.

The city has been part of the America’s Cup ecosystem for over a decade, serving as Luna Rossa’s operational base and hosting repeated training and development phases.

It was identified as early as 2015 as a potential Olympic sailing venue, and repeatedly evaluated in subsequent international bids.

This time, the process delivered.

The result is a clean geographic narrative: Sardinia opens the story. Naples finishes it.

Dock Talk: The Debate

There’s already dockside discussion.

Does opening the prelims in familiar waters favor teams with historical data? Possibly.

But the counterargument is stronger: early-cycle racing should establish a baseline, not introduce chaos.

The AC40s are one-design. The conditions are honest. The racing will be visible.

If there’s an advantage, it will be earned on the water.

What Happens Next

The Cagliari regatta will follow a clear format.

Fleet racing will determine the standings, after which the top two teams will face off in a winner-takes-all final to decide the overall Preliminary Regatta champion.

Further details on race schedule, starting times, and the Race Village will be released closer to the event.

A second official America’s Cup presentation is scheduled shortly in Naples, continuing to build momentum toward 2027.

The Last Wake

America’s Cup cycles are long.

What defines them is who sets the tone early.

By opening the Preliminary Regattas in Cagliari, the Cup isn’t easing into the future. It’s stepping straight onto the foils.

The Road to Naples doesn’t start with a parade.

It starts with racing.