Nominations have opened for the 2026 World Sailing Awards, with sailors, teams and contributors to the sport eligible for recognition across a range of categories. The nomination period runs until 30 September, ahead of the awards ceremony at the Qingdao International Conference Centre in Qingdao, China, on Wednesday, 18 November.
Among the honours will be the Rolex World Sailor of the Year, World Sailing’s highest individual award, recognising outstanding achievement in the sport.
The Young World Sailor of the Year awards will recognise leading sailors aged under 21, while Team of the Year will honour successful crews of two or more sailors.
Nominations are also being sought for the World Sailing Impact Award, which recognises individuals and teams making a positive environmental or social impact through sailing.
The Beppe Croce Trophy and President’s Development Award will recognise outstanding individual and regional contributions to the development of the sport.
Nominations can be submitted through World Sailing’s official online form before the September deadline. Submissions for World Sailor of the Year, Young World Sailor of the Year, Team of the Year and the Impact Award will be assessed by a panel of independent experts representing different areas of the marine industry.
The panel will select finalists before the shortlisted candidates are put to a public vote.
Awards Head to Qingdao
The ceremony will form part of the World Sailing Annual Conference, which is expected to bring more than 400 international delegates, sports officials and sailing representatives to Qingdao.
World Sailing CEO David Graham said the awards provided an opportunity to recognise excellence both on and off the water.
“The World Sailing Awards recognise and honour excellence, achievement, and dedication in the sport of sailing,” Graham said. “We are delighted to hold this year’s awards in a city rich in sailing heritage. Qingdao hosted the unforgettable Olympic sailing competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games and has welcomed sailors from around the world to prestigious events for decades.”
Graham said the Annual Conference and awards would also highlight those contributing to sailing’s development internationally.
“The Annual Conference and Awards are a wonderful opportunity to share and celebrate the achievements of so many athletes from across the sport, as well as shine the spotlight on those working tirelessly to support the development of sailing worldwide,” he said.
The World Sailor of the Year Awards were launched in 1994, with Rolex supporting the premier award since 2001. Winners of the 2026 awards will be announced during the ceremony in Qingdao on 18 November.
