The 65th Genoa International Boat Show provided the setting for a landmark announcement, with Emirates Team New Zealand's Grant Dalton appearing alongside Italian partners Sport e Salute to share their vision for the 2027 America's Cup. Naples is confirmed as the host city, and central to the plan is a sweeping transformation of the Bagnoli waterfront, a project that promises to reshape one of the city's most historically significant coastal quarters.
Dalton was unequivocal about the location, describing the Bay of Naples as "perfection" for racing. Organisers are clearly determined to ensure the infrastructure and fan experience rise to meet that natural stage.
Bagnoli carries an industrial past, but the 2027 Cup will recast it entirely. Syndicate technical bases for the AC75 class will be established there, alongside a dedicated hub for the Women's and Youth America's Cup fleets racing AC40s. A superyacht marina, sheltered behind a newly extended stone breakwater, forms another key element of the precinct.
The same area will also house a purpose-built fan village, conceived as a genuine destination in its own right. Giant screens, interactive exhibits, food and retail outlets, and volunteer facilities will sit alongside state-of-the-art media and broadcast centres, creating a hub capable of absorbing large crowds across the event's extended schedule.
The Cup's footprint will reach well beyond Bagnoli. Viale Francesco Caracciolo, Naples' famous seafront boulevard, will be transformed into a sprawling Race Village at the heart of the city. The main stage for trophy ceremonies will occupy this space, surrounded by hospitality suites, brand activations, bars, and restaurants. Grandstand areas positioned along the shoreline promontories will give spectators direct sightlines across the Bay's racecourse, offering viewing conditions that few venues in the world could replicate.
Organisers have set ambitious attendance targets to match the scale of the plans. They are aiming to surpass the million spectators who filled Naples' waterfront when the America's Cup World Series visited the city for regattas in 2012 and 2013, a figure that would represent an extraordinary level of public engagement for a sailing event.
Three months of racing are scheduled, encompassing the Women's and Youth America's Cup regattas alongside the main event, drawing competitors and supporters from across the globe to the Campanian coast. The combination of elite competition, urban regeneration, and the unmistakable energy of Naples is widely expected to make the 38th America's Cup one of the most memorable editions in the event's 174-year history.
Dalton put it plainly: the summer of 2027 will be "a must-see event on the global sailing calendar."
