The 2026 World Sailing Awards will return to the international stage in Qingdao, China, next month, a year after Dún Laoghaire hosted the ceremony at which the late French offshore racing star Charlie Dalin was named Rolex World Sailor of the Year.
World Sailing announced the finalists on Monday (26 October), with public voting now open across six categories. The winners will be revealed on Wednesday, 18 November.
The 2025 ceremony at the Royal St George Yacht Club remains particularly poignant following the death of Dalin, aged 42, in June. The Vendée Globe record-breaker received his award in person on Dublin Bay, while Switzerland's Justine Mettraux won the female title.
Afloat covered the 2025 award presentations in Dún Laoghaire, where the Irish J/24 world champions Headcase finished runners-up to Emirates Team New Zealand in the Team of the Year category.
This year's nominees include offshore record-breaker Thomas Coville, Olympic champion Matt Wearn and Formula Kite star Max Maeder among the male contenders, while Lauriane Nolot and Charlotte Rose feature in the female category.
No Irish sailors or teams appear on the 2026 shortlists.
Public voting accounts for 50% of the final decision, with the remaining 50% determined by World Sailing's expert judging panel. Voting closes at 12:00 UTC on Monday, 2 November.
2026 World Sailing Awards shortlists
Rolex World Sailor of the Year – Female
- Paula Barcelo and Maria Cantero (Spain)
- Maria Giubilei (Italy)
- Lauriane Nolot (France)
- Charlotte Rose (United States)
Rolex World Sailor of the Year – Male
- Thomas Coville (France)
- Max Maeder (Singapore)
- Luuc van Opzeeland (Netherlands)
- Matt Wearn (Australia)
Young World Sailor of the Year – Female
- Medea Falcioni (Italy)
- Vaina Picot (France)
- Catalina Turienzo (Argentina)
- Tamar Steinberg (Israel)
Young World Sailor of the Year – Male
- Manuel Bragança (Brazil)
- Paul Loiseau (France)
- Gian Andrea Stragiotti (Switzerland)
- Federico Pilloni (Italy)
11th Hour Racing Impact Award
- The Little Optimist Trust (South Africa)
- Shake-A-Leg Miami (United States)
- Turning Point Foundation (Germany)
- The Yacht Club of Hyderabad (India)
Team of the Year
- Diego Botin and Florian Trittel (Spain)
- Luna Rossa Team (Italy)
- Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris (Great Britain)
- Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush (New Zealand)
- The Famous Project CIC (France)
The World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Impact Award recognises environmental and social contributions through sailing. The winning organisation receives a US$10,000 prize to support its activities.
The awards ceremony forms part of the 2026 World Sailing Annual Conference in Qingdao, taking place from 16 to 21 November. The President's Development Award and Beppe Croce Trophy will also be presented.
Last year's Dún Laoghaire conference brought together more than 400 delegates from over 80 countries, with the Royal Marine Hotel and waterfront yacht clubs hosting meetings and events.
Voting information is available from World Sailing. Voters must sign in with an email address.
