SailGP and CBS Sports announced a groundbreaking two-year extension of their U.S. television partnership, marking the championship’s first multi-year broadcast deal. The agreement will deliver more than 50 hours of coverage annually across CBS Sports platforms in 2026 and 2027, significantly expanding the sport’s reach to American audiences.
- Why this matters: For Pensacola residents following American Magic’s development at the Port of Pensacola, this expanded coverage means greater visibility for the high-performance sailing world of which we’re now a part. We are the official training hub for all the Sail GP teams.
Record-Breaking Viewership Drives Partnership
The extension follows remarkable success in 2025. November’s “Race to Abu Dhabi” broadcast attracted 3.469 million viewers—the most-watched sailing race in U.S. history, surpassing even the legendary 1992 America’s Cup. Globally, SailGP reached nearly 215 million viewers last season, averaging 18 million per event.
- “This landmark multi-year extension with CBS Sports is a powerful endorsement of SailGP’s continued growth in the U.S. and the momentum of the championship globally,” said Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP co-founder and CEO. “CBS Sports has been an outstanding partner since day one, and together we’ve helped bring high-performance racing to millions of new fans.”
CBS will broadcast weekend highlight packages capturing mass audiences, while CBS Sports Network provides live coverage of multiple racing days. The 2026 season launches January 18 at 2 p.m. CT on CBS with the Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, featuring 13 international teams racing identical 50-foot foiling catamarans at speeds exceeding 60 mph.
- Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President of Programming at CBS Sports, emphasized the partnership’s value: “CBS Sports is looking forward to building on the success of our partnership with SailGP as they continue to deliver world-class events that capture a global audience.”
Local Impact
As Pensacola establishes itself as a sailing hub with American Magic’s headquarters investment, SailGP’s growing U.S. presence validates the sport’s commercial viability and potential economic impact for maritime communities like ours. The championship, co-founded by Larry Ellison and Coutts in 2018, continues redefining sailing through close-to-shore stadium racing in iconic cities worldwide.