Weymouth, Great Britain – 7 September 2026: The 2026 Musto iQFOiL World Championships have officially opened with a Parade of Nations and waterfront ceremony celebrating the athletes, volunteers and local community at the heart of the event.

A total of 179 of the world’s leading windsurfers, representing 39 nations, paraded along Weymouth Esplanade before gathering at The Boat Café for the official opening of the championship.

The parade was led by The Quarterjacks of Wimborne marching band, with children from the ELEVATE programme carrying the flags of each competing nation. Athletes followed in their national teams, creating a colourful international procession along the seafront.

Sara Sutcliffe MBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Yachting Association, welcomed those attending and highlighted the importance of building a legacy from the championship.

“There is something special about seeing the world’s best athletes gathered in a place with such a proud history of hosting major sailing and water sports events,” commented the RYA CEO to the attending athletes. “Over the coming days, we will see incredible skill, determination and athleticism on the water.

“Events like this are not only about competition; they are about inspiration. It was particularly special to see children and young people from the ELEVATE programme leading the Parade of Nations. For some, watching these athletes may be the moment they decide they would love to do the same. For others, it may simply help them realise that the water is a place where they belong.

“The legacy of a championship like this is not just what happens on the racecourse, but what happens afterwards. Weymouth and Portland is the home of British Sailing and a remarkable place to build on the legacy of London 2012, inspiring both participation and performance for generations to come.

“My sincere thanks go to every member of staff, volunteer and partner who has made this Championship possible, including UK Sport, Dorset Council and all our event partners. To the athletes, good luck, embrace the challenge and give us something spectacular to watch.”

Speeches from Councillor Pete Roper, Mayor of Portland and Dorset Council member for Portland, and Class Manager, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, joined Sutcliffe in welcoming the athletes to Weymouth and Portland. 

The Championship returns elite international sailing to the waters used for the London 2012 Olympic Games, reinforcing Weymouth and Portland’s reputation as one of the world’s leading water sports destinations.

The Musto iQFOiL World Championships will see the world’s best male and female windsurfers compete for the sport’s biggest titles, culminating in the final races in Weymouth.

How to Follow

Opening Series racing will take place from Monday 7 to Friday 11 September, determining which athletes progress into the championship’s decisive Medal Series.

The new world champions will then be crowned on Saturday 12 September, when the action moves closer to spectators in Weymouth and the championship Fan Zone opens outside Weymouth Pavilion.

Running from 10am until 6pm, the free Fan Zone will show live coverage from the racecourse on a big screen alongside athlete interviews, expert analysis, music, competitions, family activities and the championship medal ceremonies.

Results will be available from the first day of competition through to 12 September, all results and notices will be available via the results page.

The iQFOil YouTube will live stream qualification races from 10-11 September. On Saturday 12 September, UK viewers will be able to watch the medal series via Amazon Live, Eurovision Sports, Free Live Sports, Plex and Samsung TV Plus.

Keep up-to-date on the performance of home nation favourites via the British Sailing Team.  

For more information about the championship and what’s on in the free Fan Zone visit our dedicated event hub.