100-Day Countdown Begins: English Riviera Set to Host ICF SUP World Cup and Paddle UK SUPER Festival
The English Riviera is counting down 100 days until it welcomes one of the biggest water sports events ever to take place in the country.
The ICF SUP World Cup 2026 and Paddle UK SUPER Festival, is running from June 24th – 28th. Paddle UK, event organizers, and Torbay Council have been working to prepare for a week of world-class racing, festival activities, and a vibrant community celebration of sea, sport, and summer.
The event will feature the ICF SUP World Cup, with about 200 elite SUP athletes competing in sprint, technical, and distance races from Torre Abbey Sands. Experienced paddlers can enter the ICF World Cup races to challenge top global competitors, with €9,000 prize money available in the ICF open categories.
“With only 100 days to go, it’s fantastic to be working with Torbay Council as excitement builds towards this summer’s event.” – Ashley Metcalfe, CEO for Paddle UK.
“We are working hard to deliver an exceptional SUP World Cup and Paddle UK SUPER Festival that will inspire more people to get on the water, grow the sport of stand up paddling, and showcase the English Riviera as one of the UK’s top SUP destinations.”
Alongside the professional competition, the Paddle UK SUPER Festival offers a program of family-friendly activities, entertainment, and opportunities for everyone to get involved.
Familiar places like Torquay’s waterfront and Paignton’s iconic pier will become the backdrop to thrilling races, live entertainment, and community events. Beaches, harbors, and promenade areas will host everything from festival races and SUP Polo to food, entertainment, and trade stands.
A major highlight of the festival will be an attempt to break the World Record for the most SUP paddlers on the water at once, with about 1,000 people expected to join the challenge. The spectacle can be watched by residents from many well-loved points around the Bay.
The event caters to all confidence levels, encouraging beginners to try paddleboarding for the first time through Have a Go sessions or relaxed festival races. The activities make it an ideal weekend for families or anyone curious to try something new.
Race Director Brendon Prince said: « We’ve got everything from absolute beginner stuff off the beach through to advanced adventure paddling and everything in between. It’s about helping people understand ‘yes, this is a SUP World Cup location,’ but come and visit, come and explore and come and try all the different journeys you can have by SUP. The leverage an event gives you to create legacy is fantastic. »
Council’s Cllr Jackie Thomas, Cabinet Member for Events, Tourism, Culture and Corporate Services, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the 2026 ICF SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival here in Torbay. Our stunning coastline is the perfect stage for this global event, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors to come together and celebrate everything that makes the English Riviera so special.”
For more information and registration details, visit: www.superfestival.paddleuk.org.ukprogram
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