Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Cannes Yacht Club have announced the launch of the 2026 Cannes Malta Race, a compelling 600nm offshore event that connects two of the Mediterranean’s most celebrated sailing destinations. This year’s edition starts on October 5, 2026, from Cannes, with the prize giving at Royal Malta Yacht Club on Monday, October 12.

The approximately 600-nautical-mile course will take competitors from the French Riviera southeast through the Strait of Bonifacio, separating Corsica and Sardinia, before heading south towards the Egadi Islands and the Sicily Strait, and onto the waters of the Maltese archipelago. Timed for early autumn, the race is a technically demanding passage through some of the Mediterranean’s most storied sailing grounds. Arriving crews will then have the superb opportunity to extend their racing season by competing in the Rolex Middle Sea Race (which starts on October 17), one of offshore sailing’s most renowned events, making the Cannes Malta Race a natural gateway to that celebrated challenge.

Mark Napier, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, said, “The Cannes Malta Race represents a natural extension of the Royal Malta Yacht Club’s commitment to building meaningful international connections through sailing. Our collaboration with the Cannes Yacht Club reflects a shared vision—one that goes beyond competition to foster lasting relationships between sailors, clubs, and nations. This race not only offers a compelling offshore challenge across the Mediterranean, but also provides a unique pathway for crews to experience Malta at its finest, culminating in participation in the Rolex Middle Sea Race—one of the sport’s most iconic events.”

The World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Category 2 race is open to IRC, ORC, Double-Handed, Multihull, and Offshore One Design classes with a minimum hull length of nine meters. The Visit Malta Trophy will be awarded to the first monohull boat to finish the race on elapsed time. The 20Twenty Cannes-Malta Trophy will be awarded to the overall winner on corrected time in the IRC Category. Berthing is available for all competing boats at both clubs at no additional cost, from September 28-October 5 in Cannes, and until October 13 in Malta.

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