Rolex Swan Cup 2026: 170 Swans gather in Porto Cervo to celebrate 60 years of Nautor Swan
by Nautor Swan 15 Sep 05:37 PDT
13-19 September 2026
Rolex Swan Cup © ClubSwan Racing / Studio Borlenghi
Today, Porto Cervo welcomes the 23rd edition of the Rolex Swan Cup, the world's largest one-brand sailing event and one of the highlights of the international yachting calendar.
- 170 Swan yachts from more than 90 models gather in Porto Cervo for the 23rd Rolex Swan Cup, the world's largest one-brand sailing event.
- Nautor Swan celebrates 60 years, bringing together six decades of design, craftsmanship, racing heritage and a passionate international community.
- A week of racing, celebration and shared experiences, culminating in the spectacular "Dance of the Swans", the 60th Anniversary Owners' Dinner and the Rolex Dinner Party.
Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with Nautor Swan and Rolex, this year's edition celebrates 60 years of Nautor Swan, bringing together an extraordinary fleet and generations of owners and sailors to honour the past, celebrate the present and look towards the future.
A remarkable fleet of 170 Swan yachts, representing more than 90 models and every generation of the Finnish shipyard's production, has gathered in Porto Cervo. From the historic yachts that created the Swan legend to the latest high-performance flagships, the fleet is a spectacular expression of the brand's extraordinary continuity — a story written over six decades by visionary designers, skilled craftsmen, passionate owners and generations of sailors.
More than a regatta, the Rolex Swan Cup is a celebration of a community united by a shared passion for the sea, sailing and Swan.
Three generations, one ClubSwan family
The fleet will compete across the three ClubSwan divisions.
ClubSwan Spirit will bring together 43 Maxi Swans and 50 Swan yachts, including a dedicated division for owners wishing to race while maintaining their yachts in authentic cruising configuration.
ClubSwan Racing will feature 39 yachts across the ClubSwan 50, 43, 42, 36 and 28 classes, together with the Swan 45, showcasing the most competitive and performance-driven soul of the ClubSwan community.
ClubSwan Legacy, with 37 boats, will celebrate Swan's heritage through yachts designed by Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and Frers. For the first time, these different generations of Swan design will compete together.
At the head of the historic fleet will be Tarantella, Swan 36-001, the first Swan ever built, recently restored to her original splendour. At the other end of the spectrum, the Swan 128 flagships BeCool and Raijin, together with the new Swan 80 Elvi, will represent the latest evolution of the brand.
The fleet will also include iconic boats such as Formosa, Nautor hull number 1000, Swan 48 Elan, four Swan 65s and two Swan 651s, creating a unique connection between Swan's past and its future.
The dance of the Swans
One of the highlights of the week will take place today, Tuesday 15 September, when the entire fleet participates in the "Dance of the Swans", a spectacular hero shooting dedicated to renowned sailing photographer Carlo Borlenghi.
All participating Swans will sail around Isola dei Monaci in a carefully choreographed circular formation, creating a unique spectacle to be captured by helicopter and drones. Each participant will receive photographs and video footage of the event as a lifetime memory of the 60th anniversary.
The theme will continue into the Opening Ceremony, where dancers from the Arzachena Dance School, affiliated with the Royal Academy of Dance in London, will interpret the "Dance of the Swans" through a special performance.
The combination of sailing, photography, music and dance will provide an evocative opening to a week celebrating both the sporting and cultural dimension of the Swan community, as well as the unmistakable beauty and poetry of these extraordinary yachts.
Four days of racing, seven days together
Following Tuesday's practice races, official racing will begin on Wednesday 16 September and continue through Saturday 19 September.
Alongside the racing programme, the social calendar will offer a full week of gatherings, music and celebrations. Daily After racing events at YCCS Piazza Azzurra will bring owners and crews together, while the programme will include the Welcome Cocktail, the Meet & Greet with Paul Cayard, the Owners' Dinner celebrating Nautor Swan's 60th anniversary, and the much-anticipated Rolex Dinner Party at the CHP Pevero Hotel.
The week will conclude on Saturday with the Final Prize Giving Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the winners and the participation of the entire fleet.
Sixty years of Swan
Gianguido Girotti, CEO of Nautor Swan, highlights the importance of the community behind the brand:
"ClubSwan is truly unique in yachting. Our events are not simply competitions; they are opportunities for owners to meet, sail, learn and share experiences. This 60th anniversary edition in Porto Cervo demonstrates the extraordinary strength of that community.
"For sixty years, Swan yachts have sailed around the world, from the frozen Poles to the Galápagos. The future is about creating exceptional new yachts while building an even stronger community around them."
The Rolex Swan Cup perfectly reflects this philosophy. From the smallest Swan to the largest Maxi, from the most experienced professional to the owner discovering the event for the first time, everyone shares the same fundamental values: love for the sea, love for sailing, love for Swan.
A celebration made possible by ClubSwan partners
An event of this scale would not be possible without the support of ClubSwan partners and the many professionals working behind the scenes.
Rolex, the historic Title Sponsor and long-standing partner of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Nautor Swan, continues to share a profound connection with sailing, precision, performance and excellence.
Alongside Rolex and Ferragamo, Denza brings its vision of innovation, design and sustainable mobility to this special edition of the Rolex Swan Cup, sharing the event's spirit of excellence and forward-thinking.
Telepass Mare contributes to the event with its expertise in marine mobility and services, further enhancing the experience of the Swan community both on and off the water.
A special acknowledgement also goes to all the technical partners, suppliers, race officials, sailing professionals, crews and specialists whose expertise and commitment make it possible to manage a fleet of 170 yachts and deliver one of the most complex and spectacular events in international sailing.
Their contribution is an essential part of the Rolex Swan Cup. Behind every yacht on the starting line is a team of people working together to make this extraordinary celebration of 60 years of Swan possible — and a community of passionate owners and sailors helping Nautor Swan write the next chapter of this remarkable story.