Englewood Beach Waterfest stages the final round of the APBA Offshore National Championship on Saturday October 10 and Sunday October 11, 2026, on Englewood Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The race carries a $50,000 purse. A two-day ticket costs $35 online or $40 at the gate, and children 17 and under get in free with a paying adult. The free Community Block Party in downtown Englewood opens the weekend on Friday evening, October 9.
Gates open at 9am on both race days. There is no public parking on Englewood Beach from Friday to Sunday, so spectators park at one of two free satellite lots and ride the shuttle bus. Details are below.
What You Will See
Offshore powerboats race on a course laid out off Englewood Beach, with spectators watching from the sand. The weekend covers more than a dozen classes, from the bracket classes up to Class 1 and Super Cat, the largest boats in the field. Super V, Super Stock, Extreme, Factory Stock and the smaller V Limited, Class 300 and CAT 300 boats also race, and the Thundercat class runs during the breaks for helicopter refuelling. Each day runs from 10am to the late afternoon, and the general admission ticket covers both days, so anyone who misses a class on Saturday can catch it on Sunday.
The XINSURANCE Heli-Cam will film the racing from the air throughout the weekend.
Race Schedule
All times are local (EDT, UTC-4). The “Your time” column converts automatically to your device’s time zone. The organisers say the schedule is subject to change.
| Session | Local time (EDT, UTC-4) | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday October 10 | ||
| Gates open | 9:00am | |
| Race 1, Bracket 400, 500, 600 and CAT 300 | 10:00am – 10:45am | |
| Race 2, Bracket 700, Class 300 and V Limited | 11:30am – 12:15pm | |
| Helicopter refuelling, Thundercat class | 12:15pm – 12:45pm | |
| Race 3, Bracket 200, Factory Stock and Super Cat | 12:45pm – 1:30pm | |
| Race 4, Class 1 and Super V qualifying | 1:45pm – 2:30pm | |
| Helicopter refuelling, Thundercat class | 2:30pm – 3:00pm | |
| Race 5, Super Stock qualifying (4 laps) | 3:00pm – 4:30pm | |
| Sunday October 11 | ||
| Gates open | 9:00am | |
| Race 1, Bracket 400, 500, 600 and CAT 300 | 10:00am – 10:45am | |
| Race 2, Bracket 700, Mod V, Class 300 and V Limited | 11:30am – 12:15pm | |
| Helicopter refuelling, Thundercat class | 12:15pm – 12:45pm | |
| Race 3, Bracket 200, Factory Stock and Super Cat | 12:45pm – 1:30pm | |
| Race 4, Class 1 and Super V qualifying | 1:45pm – 2:30pm | |
| Helicopter refuelling, Thundercat class | 2:30pm – 3:00pm | |
| Race 5, Super V, Class 1 and Extreme | 3:00pm – 3:45pm | |
| Race 6, Super Stock | 4:00pm – 4:45pm | |
| Awards ceremony, SandBar Tiki & Grille | 6:30pm – 8:00pm | |
Tickets
The two-day general admission ticket costs $35 online and $40 at the gate. It includes entry to the race village, the vendors and the Family Conservation Center, along with parking and the shuttle bus. Children 17 and under are free with a paying adult but still need a children’s ticket. Online sales close at 4pm on Thursday October 8. After that, tickets are on sale at the Block Party and at the main gate on race days. A VIP pass with food and drinks is also available.
Coolers, alcohol and pets are not allowed on the buses or the beach. Beer, wine and mixed drinks are sold in the race village, with ID required and a minimum age of 21.
Buy Tickets
Two-day tickets are $35 online until 4pm on Thursday October 8.
Englewood Beach Waterfest TicketsParking and Shuttle Buses
Spectators can park free at two locations on Saturday and Sunday, with buses running to the beach from 8:30am to 6pm on both days.
| Bus route | Parking location | Buses run |
|---|---|---|
| Red Route | Elks Lodge, 401 N Indiana Ave, Englewood | 8:30am – 6:00pm |
| Green Route | Lemon Bay High School, 2201 Placida Rd, Englewood | 8:30am – 6:00pm |
An ADA bus runs from 10am to 6pm on both days. You do not need a ticket to board the bus; tickets can be bought at the ticket counter on arrival at the race village.
Friday Block Party
The free Community Block Party runs from 5pm to 10pm on Friday October 9 on Dearborn Street and Pioneer Plaza in Englewood. The race boats go on display along Dearborn Street, and race teams will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs. The Crossfire Creek Band plays live on Pioneer Plaza, with dozens of food and retail vendors and a 50/50 raffle. Englewood Door and Window, a long-standing community partner of the event, sponsors the Block Party.
Earlier on Friday, the Inflatable Invitational Beach Race starts at 10am on Englewood Beach. Entrants race in inflatable costumes for a $5 cash entry fee, with children 10 and under free. Parking for that event is at the SandBar Tiki & Grille, 1975 Beach Rd, and vehicles must be moved by 11:30am.
Family Conservation Center
The Family Conservation Center is open from 10am to 4pm on both race days and is included in the ticket. Mote Marine Laboratory brings five exhibits covering sharks and rays, Florida watersheds, marine animal strandings, invertebrates and coral reefs. Other exhibitors include the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, SWFL Sea Turtle Rescue, Peace River K9 Search and Rescue, Restore Our Oceans, the Barrier Island State Park Society and Butterfly Encounter, with free face painting, crafts and games for children. Michael J. Looney Electric and the Nancy Kay Cwerzinski Looney Scholarship Fund sponsor the centre again this year.
Sponsors and a Community Rebuilding
The race is presented by Manasota Key Group, Fuel 1 Racing, Visit Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach, and the Florida Sports Foundation. Manasota Key Group’s owners, Don and Sue, operate Lock ‘N Key, the SandBar Tiki & Grille, Magnolias on the Bay and Manasota Marina. All four came through Hurricane Ian, but Hurricanes Helene and Milton badly damaged the restaurants, and Milton’s 8ft storm surge destroyed the marina. The organisers expect Manasota Marina to reopen in 2027.
David Stefanini, Vice-President of the Englewood Beach Waterfest, Inc. Board of Directors, said:
Having this year’s race event sponsored by so many local organizations is even more impactful.
The organisers say last year’s event drew more than 40,000 visitors, over 75 per cent of them from out of state, and generated $5.6 million for the local economy. Englewood Beach Waterfest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Ray LaBadie, President of the Englewood Beach Waterfest, Inc. Board of Directors, said:
We have a few new sponsors and several local legacy sponsors returning to support the event again in 2026, helping us to build on the thrilling show from 2025. We are seeing the palpable community spirit in Englewood growing every year.
Powerboat News previewed the 2026 event in July, including the second dry pits facility at the Englewood Sports Complex and the Conservation Village. Read the earlier Englewood Beach Waterfest story.
APBA Offshore Coverage
Follow the APBA Offshore National Championship and the road to Key West on Powerboat News.
2026 APBA Offshore National Series
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.
