The Canada Sail Grand Prix

USPA NEWS - SailGP Team, will take on national teams from around the world as SailGP returns to the Halifax Waterfront.

With larger grandstands, an electric atmosphere and even more Canadian spirit, fans can expect an exciting weekend of high-speed racing and waterfront action.

Held on Halifax Harbour in June, the 2026 Canada Sail Grand Prix drew approximately 12,000 ticketed spectators, with thousands more gathering along the waterfront throughout race weekend. Thirteen national teams competed aboard SailGP’s high-performance F50 catamarans, bringing the excitement of international sailing to Halifax. The event attracted a global audience while highlighting Halifax’s waterfront, rich maritime heritage and strong sailing culture.

Sarah Flanagan, president of Sail Nova Scotia, said the Canada Sail Grand Prix is helping highlight Halifax and Nova Scotia as a destination for sailing while attracting visitors to the waterfront and supporting businesses throughout the region. “The 31 per cent increase in non-local spectators is a strong indication of the event’s growing reach and its ability to attract people from beyond our community,” Flanagan said. “We’re proud to see Halifax’s maritime culture showcased on the world stage and to be part of an event that creates meaningful connections between our sport, our city and visitors.”

With SailGP’s F50 catamarans capable of reaching speeds of more than 100 km/h, Halifax Harbour offered a unique close-to-shore racecourse, giving spectators an up-close view of some of the world’s most exciting sailing action. SailGP will return to Halifax next year, with the Canada Sail Grand Prix confirmed for May 15th–16th, 2027, as part of the Rolex SailGP Championship.

The 2026 Canada Sail Grand Prix generated an estimated $64.7 million CAD ($46.3 million USD) in total economic impact for Halifax, representing an increase of nearly 4 per cent compared with the 2024 event, according to an economic-impact assessment commissioned by SailGP and conducted by Deloitte. Much of that growth was driven by a significant increase in visitors from outside Halifax. Non-local spectator attendance rose by 31 per cent compared with 2024, with 55 per cent of the 2026 audience traveling from outside the city. The increase in visitors helped drive additional spending across Halifax and the surrounding region.