Issue date
Naples will host the 38th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup in the spring and summer of 2027, marking the first time the prestigious sailing event will take place in Italy.
The announcement was made by the Government of Italy, in collaboration with Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, following a successful bid that outpaced several competing cities.
The regatta, the oldest international sporting trophy, will unfold against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Vesuvius. Racing will take place in the Gulf of Naples between Castel dell’Ovo and Posillipo. Team bases will be located in Bagnoli, an area undergoing significant environmental remediation and urban regeneration.
Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton said he was "excited" by the decision to bring the event to Italy.
"There is a raw spirit and absolute pride in Italy that seems so appropriate for the next America's Cup," Dalton said.
"Italians are the most passionate and engaged America's Cup audience. From the Defender’s position, it certainly feels like we're entering the lion’s den competitively - but from an event perspective, it feels like the perfect venue."
Dalton also acknowledged the significance of returning the Cup to a country that is home to Luna Rossa, one of the competition's most storied challengers. Naples previously hosted America's Cup World Series events in 2012 and 2013, attracting more than a million spectators to its waterfront.
Commodore David Blakey of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the current holder and Trustee of the America's Cup, said the return of the event to Europe offered a chance to elevate the profile of sailing and innovation on a global scale.
"Italy has long been one of Team New Zealand's fiercest and most passionate rivals in the America's Cup, and we are thrilled to see Naples named as the Host Venue," Blakey said. "Naples promises to be a spectacular setting for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, as well as the Youth and Women’s regattas."
Naples has been confirmed as the host venue for the 38th America's Cup in 2027. Photos / America's Cup
Andrea Abodi, Italy’s Minister for Sport and Youth, played a central role in the bid and welcomed the announcement as a "tremendous opportunity for the entire country to enhance the value of its territory, boost tourism, and promote sport."
"This is a great team victory," Abodi said, crediting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her early support of the bid. "The major investment, organisational capabilities, and fulfilment of all necessary requirements testify to the expertise and professionalism of a team that has shown it has everything it takes to meet the expectations of all stakeholders."
Hosting the event would not only showcase Italy's maritime tradition but also serve as a platform for promoting sea education and the marine economy, he said.
It would also accelerate urban renewal in Bagnoli, with Abodi describing it as "a first time for our nation, one that will make all Italians proud and surely leave the rest of the world breathless".
The event will play out against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Vesuvius. Photos / America's Cup
Mayor of Naples and Government Special Commissioner for Bagnoli, Gaetano Manfredi, hailed the announcement as a moment of international significance for the city.
"This will be the most important sporting event ever hosted by Naples," he said. "It will showcase the beauty of our landscape and the city's ability to meet major global challenges."
Further details on the planning and programming of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup will be announced in due course.
