H2O Racing has confirmed the full 2026 UIM F1H2O World Championship calendar: seven rounds across three continents, anchored by the first Grand Prix ever held in Central Asia. The season opens in Cagliari in May and concludes in Sharjah in December, with a landmark new venue in Kyrgyzstan at the centrepiece of the schedule.
The announcement completes the planning picture for a season in which defending champions Victory Team, Team Abu Dhabi and a string of rival outfits have already confirmed their line-ups.
Cagliari Opens the Season
The Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy runs from May 29 to 31, with Cagliari providing a familiar and spectacular European backdrop for the season opener.
Kyrgyzstan: A First in F1H2O History
The most significant entry on the calendar is the inaugural Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan, scheduled for July 31 to August 2. Organised by H2O Racing in collaboration with the Kyrgyz Powerboating Federation, the event takes place on Lake Issyk-Kul in the east of the country.
The Kyrgyzstan round marks the first F1H2O race in Central Asia, continuing the championship’s expansion into new markets. UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, who visited Kyrgyzstan and met the president of the Republic, discussed the country’s ambitions in depth when Powerboat News interviewed him in Lisbon last week.
Back-to-Back in China
After Kyrgyzstan, the championship heads east for two consecutive Chinese events. The first venue, with racing on September 28 to 30, is yet to be announced. The following week, the championship returns to Shanghai, with the Grand Prix running at the Baoshan neighbourhood in the north of the city on October 3 and 4. The 2025 Shanghai race was one of the most competitive of that season.
Jeddah Returns in November
The inaugural Jeddah Grand Prix in 2025 set a high benchmark for the Red Sea city. Racing returns there from November 27 to 29.
Middle East Finale and the Sharjah Showdown
A further Middle Eastern venue, to be confirmed, hosts the penultimate round on December 11 to 13. The season concludes on the Khalid Lagoon in Sharjah from December 18 to 20, with the Road to Sharjah Grand Prix of Sharjah marking the 25th F1H2O Grand Prix to take place in the Emirate.
2026 F1H2O World Championship Calendar
| Round | Event | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy | Cagliari, Italy | May 29–31 |
| 2 | Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan | Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan | July 31 – August 2 |
| 3 | Grand Prix of China | TBA, China | September 28–30 |
| 4 | Grand Prix of China – Shanghai | Baoshan, Shanghai | October 3–4 |
| 5 | Grand Prix of Jeddah | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | November 27–29 |
| 6 | TBA Grand Prix | Middle East (TBA) | December 11–13 |
| 7 | Road to Sharjah Grand Prix of Sharjah | Khalid Lagoon, Sharjah | December 18–20 |
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
