One week out from the first F1H2O World Championship race ever held in Central Asia, the Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan gets underway on July 31 at Lake Issyk-Kul.
Known as the "Pearl of Kyrgyzstan", the lake sits amid mountain scenery and deep blue waters. At 1,607 metres above sea level, it will be the highest altitude at which an F1H2O World Championship event has ever been held.
Final preparations are underway ahead of the fleet's arrival. Drivers will get their first run of the circuit on the afternoon of July 31, competing at altitude on a course none of them have seen before.
The championship picture gives this round added weight. Sharjah Team's Stefan Arand arrives as points leader after his victory in Cagliari, a race that saw both his teammate Rusty Wyatt and reigning World Champion Shaun Torrente barrel-roll out of contention. As the second round of the 2026 season, Kyrgyzstan is an early chance for both to claw back ground and keep their title campaigns alive.
The event is shaping up as considerably more than a race weekend. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic is expected to attend alongside the Presidents of other Central Asian nations, the President of Azerbaijan, and a significant gathering of regional and national dignitaries, with thousands of spectators also anticipated at the lakeside venue.
Off the water, organisers have put together a programme of cultural and musical events to mark the occasion. Each evening after racing will feature live concerts with singers, DJs, orchestras, and other performers, drawing on the traditions and hospitality of the region.
