Nominations are open for the 2026 World Sailing Awards, and the sport's highest honours are up for grabs for sailors, teams, and organisations worldwide.
The ceremony takes place on Wednesday 18 November at the Qingdao International Conference Center in China, running alongside the World Sailing Annual Conference. More than 400 delegates, officials, and observers are expected in the city for the week-long event. Qingdao is no stranger to elite sailing, having hosted the competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and it has drawn international fleets to major events ever since.
The headline honour is the Rolex World Sailor of the Year, the sport's highest individual award, backed by Rolex since 2001. Winners find out only on the night, when they also receive a Rolex timepiece.
Other categories include the Young World Sailor of the Year for sailors under 21, Team of the Year for crews of two or more, and the Impact Award for significant social or environmental contributions. The Beppe Croce Trophy and President's Development Award recognise outstanding individual and regional contributions to the sport.
World Sailing CEO David Graham welcomed the choice of venue. "The World Sailing Awards recognise and honour excellence, achievement, and dedication in the sport of sailing," he said. "We are delighted to hold this year's awards in a city rich in sailing heritage."
He added that the conference and awards offer "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."
Nominations for the Rolex World Sailor of the Year, Young Sailor of the Year, Team of the Year, and Impact Award go before a panel of independent experts drawn from across the marine industry. The panel draws up a shortlist, which then goes to a public vote before winners are announced on the night.
Nominations close 30 September 2026.
