The 2026 Watersports Inclusion Games have been launched in Galway, with organisers expecting up to 400 participants and 300 volunteers for a weekend dedicated to accessible watersports. The free event will take place on 11 and 12 July at the Port of Galway, with activity hubs based at Galway Hooker Sailing Club and the Galway Sea Scouts Den in the New Docks.
First held in 2017, the Games celebrate participation on the water for people of all abilities, including those from physical, sensory, intellectual and learning disability communities. Activities will include sailing, kayaking, canoeing, water-skiing, fast-boat rides, and a sensory area.
The national event is organised by Irish Sailing in association with Canoeing Ireland and the Galway Local Sports Partnership, and is supported by a network of sailing clubs, watersports organisations and volunteers from across the country.
Launching the Games, Galway Hooker Sailing Club Commodore Ciaran Oliver said the event had become a key fixture in the watersports calendar. “The Inclusion Games has become a landmark event in the watersports calendar, celebrating participation, accessibility and inclusion on the water,” he said. “By showcasing inclusive watersports opportunities and encouraging more providers to adopt an accessible approach, we hope to inspire greater participation and ensure more people can enjoy the benefits of being on the water.”
This year’s ambassador is canoeist and inclusion advocate Mark Henderson, who became the first wheelchair user to complete the 30km Liffey Descent in 2023. Henderson is also a PaddleAble Ambassador with Canoeing Ireland and serves as the organisation’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director.
Galway City East Councillor Helen Ogbu, who attended the launch, said the Games reflected the values of inclusion and community. “By creating opportunities for people of all abilities to experience watersports, the Games demonstrate how sport can bring people together and enrich lives,” she said.
The Games are supported through Sport Ireland funding and form part of wider efforts to increase accessibility and participation in watersports nationwide. Registration and further information are available through Irish Sailing ahead of the July event.
