New era for America’s Cup

America’s Cup Partnership CEO Marzio Perrelli will work with teams to bring a new structure aimed at growing the property’s business. The America’s Cup has roots dating back to 1851, a founding year that the storied sailing property asserts makes it the world’s oldest international sports competition. But in 2026, it identifies as a startup.

Last year, five founding teams formed a new entity called America’s Cup Partnership (ACP) to restructure and govern the sailing competition and its business operations. “With this new governance, you need to start from scratch, and you need to set up a business, you need to set up a structure,” said Marzio Perrelli, ACP’s CEO and first hire. “It’s a combination of old and new, and you need to link the two bits and pieces, and it’s extremely challenging. The potential of the Cup, I can see the biggest upside in the whole sports industry right now.”

ACP was established with the remit of realizing that upside. Its board is comprised of representatives from the seven teams, New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Australia and the U.S., slated to participate in the 38th edition of the event next year in Naples, Italy. – Full story

Details: https://www.americascup.com/

Defender New Zealand and Challenger of Record from Great Britain confirmed the Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup on August 12, 2025. The close of the initial entry period was October 31, 2025, with late entries considered up to March 31, 2026.

Current entrants:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) – Defender
• Athena Racing (GBR) – Challenger of Record
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger
• Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI) – Challenger
• La Roche-Posay Racing Team (FRA) – Challenger
• American Racing Challenger Team USA (USA) – Challenger
• Team Australia (AUS) – Challenger

After the 2024 event, Barcelona, Spain declined hosting another edition, with the venue moved to Naples, Italy. Challenger racing is mid-May to June/July before the 38th Match on July 10-18.

Preliminary Regattas:*
May 22-24, 2026 – Cagliari, Italy
September 24-27 – Naples, Italy

* The Protocol noted how there would be as many Preliminary Regattas as possible, with the intent to have three during 2026 and one possibly in early 2027, and a final event at the Match Venue immediately prior to the challenger series. Only two have been thus far revealed.

Source: Sports Business Journal