Guarapari prepares to host the biggest event of the Formula Windsurfing season
The wait is almost over. From 15–19 September 2026, the world’s best Formula Windsurfing riders will gather in Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brazil, for the Formula Windsurfing Fin & Foil World Championships 2026. The most important event of the season and the ultimate battle for the world titles.
After months of training, international competition and preparation, everything comes down to five days of racing on the Brazilian coast. The championship will bring together athletes competing in Formula Windsurfing Fin and Formula Windsurfing Foil, with titles contested across men’s, women’s and youth categories. The event is sanctioned by the International Windsurfing Association and organised by the Guarapari Educational and Cultural Foundation, marking an important moment for both Formula Windsurfing and the Brazilian windsurfing community.
A season-long journey comes to Brazil
The 2026 season has already taken Formula Windsurfing riders across Europe and South America. The year began with the Brazil Open in Praia Seca, Araruama, before the Formula Windsurfing Fin European Championships in Lagos, Portugal, and the Formula Foil European Championships and Grand Prix in Viganj, Croatia.
Now, the season reaches its biggest stage.
The World Championships in Guarapari are where all the preparation, racing experience and progression of the season will be put to the ultimate test. As the Formula Windsurfing Class Association describes it, this is the moment when the world’s best riders come together to fight for the most prestigious title of the year.
And the Brazilian setting could hardly be more spectacular.
Guarapari: racing against the backdrop of Brazil
Located on the coast of Espírito Santo, Guarapari is one of Brazil’s best-known coastal destinations, surrounded by beaches, warm waters and a coastline shaped by the Atlantic Ocean. The region is famous for its variety of beaches and strong connection with water sports. Several sailing and surf locations around Guarapari offer open-water conditions, while the wider Espírito Santo coastline is known for its combination of ocean swells and changing wind patterns. For windsurfers, Brazil offers a particularly exciting environment. Earlier this year, the Brazil Open at Araruama demonstrated the country’s ability to deliver high-level Formula racing, with 82 competitors from five nations taking part. Racing there was held in warm conditions and winds ranging from 5 to 20 knots, with the event showcasing the depth and enthusiasm of Brazil’s windsurfing community.
Guarapari will now provide a very different backdrop – an Atlantic coastal venue where the championship fleet will face the conditions of one of Brazil’s most iconic seaside regions. The combination of warm water, an extensive coastline and the possibility of challenging wind conditions promises an exciting test for both the athletes and their equipment. The Formula Windsurfing Class has already highlighted Guarapari as a venue capable of delivering spectacular racing conditions.
Fin and Foil: two disciplines, one world title battle
The 2026 championship will bring together two sides of modern Formula Windsurfing. Formula Windsurfing Fin represents the classic high-performance racing format, with riders racing on a fin-powered board. Speed, positioning, tactical decisions and physical strength all play a crucial role. Formula Windsurfing Foil, meanwhile, brings a different dimension to the competition. With the board lifted above the water by a hydrofoil, riders can achieve remarkable speeds while racing in lighter winds. The discipline places enormous demands on balance, precision, equipment tuning and tactical awareness.
Together, the two disciplines showcase the evolution and versatility of Formula Windsurfing, from traditional fin racing to the high-speed world of foiling. The championship will award world titles in Formula Windsurfing Foil Men, Women, Youth Men and Youth Women, alongside the Formula Windsurfing Fin Championship.
An international fleet is already taking shape
With the championship approaching, the international fleet is beginning to take shape, with riders from several countries already confirmed for Guarapari.
The starting fleet is already taking shape, with riders from Europe and South America confirmed for the championship, including Jan Klimaszyk (POL-95), Sofia Rocha De Faria (BRA-12), Marcelo Holanda (BRA-2004), Francesco Leoni (ITA-378), Apolonio Carvalho (BRA-406), and Luis Vierna “Chalo” (ESP-102).
The growing entry list reflects the international character of Formula Windsurfing, with competitors from Europe and South America already preparing for the Brazilian showdown.
The final battle of the season
There is now only one question left: who will leave Guarapari as a World Champion?
Five days of racing will determine the answers. One thing is certain: when the starting signals sound in Guarapari on 15 September, the entire Formula Windsurfing season will come down to this.
Brazil is ready. The fleet is growing. The world title is waiting.
