Cowes Week
Visit Cowes on the Isle of Wight between 1 and 7 August 2026 and join thousands of spectators as they gather to watch exciting yacht races and take part in the events and celebrations marking the bicentenary of the world’s longest running regatta.
What is Cowes Week?
Cowes Week is an annual sailing regatta held each August in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Established in 1826, it has reached a significant milestone this year, celebrating its 200th anniversary. With over 40 races taking place each day throughout the week, thousands of competitors travel to the seaport town to take part in this historic event.
What's happening during Cowes Week 2026?
Cowes Week hosts a mixture of competitive sailing and social activities. This year will be extra special, with a range of exciting events to mark the 200th anniversary. Alongside the usual races taking place on the Solent, an anniversary race, the Parade of Sail, will be held, with winners awarded the new Bicentenary Gold Cup. On land there will be live music, an exhibition, Sailing Through Royal History, in the Commodores House, hosted by The Royal Yacht Britannia, an air display by RAF Red Arrows and to close the week with a bang, spectacular fireworks will light up the skies.
Was Britannia at Cowes Week?
Since its beginnings, Cowes Week has always had a Royal presence and support. The event was regularly attended by Prince Philip, with The Royal Yacht Britannia providing a distinguished backdrop to an exciting week of racing.
This year Britannia returns to Cowes after 30 years in the form of a pop-up exhibition, Sailing Through Royal History, taking place 31 July - 29 August 2026 at the Commodores House. This exhibition celebrates the Yacht’s relationship with Cowes and its community, as well as the strong Royal links through Prince Philip’s close friend and crewmate, the legendary yacht designer Uffa Fox. The exhibition also coincides with the two prestigious Dragon class regattas, The Edinburgh Cup and the Marblehead Trophy.
Visuals for the Sailing Through Royal History Exhibition
Bluebottle at Cowes Week
Kindly on loan from the Royal Collection Trust, BLUEBOTTLE (GBR 192), a Dragon class yacht built by Camper & Nicholson in 1947, was presented to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding gift by the Island Sailing Club. In 1956, she was loaned to the British Olympic team and, helmed by Lt Cdr Graham Mann, where they won a bronze medal, the only British Dragon to achieve this.
After restoration by David Heritage Racing Yachts, BLUEBOTTLE has returned to racing with notable success, regularly outperforming modern fibreglass boats despite her age. In 2025 BLUEBOTTLE won the Marblehead Trophy, and will be coming to Cowes in 2026 for the challenger event.
Image copyright:
John Cole
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