The World of Foiling gathers in Malcesine for the 13th Edition of Foiling Week
by Nicola Maggio 26 Jun 15:48 UTC
27 June - 5 July 2026
13th Edition of Foiling Week in Malcesine © Martina Orsini / We Are Foiling Media
Among the highlights of the Foiling Sport Congress, Ferrari Hypersail, Red Bull Italy SailGP, Francesca Clapcich and Ambrogio Beccaria will discuss Italy's increasingly influential role on the global foiling stage.
From June 27th to July 5th, Malcesine once again becomes the global home of foiling. The Veneto shore of Lake Garda will host the 13th edition of Foiling Week, bringing together more than 500 foilers, team members and stakeholders from around the world for a programme combining world-class racing, technological innovation, public experiences and international dialogue.
Recognised as a World Sailing Special Event since 2021, Foiling Week brings together Olympic athletes, America's Cup and SailGP competitors, international classes, designers, boat builders, manufacturers, event organisers, national federations and enthusiasts, making it the leading annual gathering of the global foiling community.
It is no coincidence that The Foiling Organization has awarded Malcesine the designation of "Foiling Capital". Thanks to its reliable thermal winds, unique microclimate and long-established sailing tradition, the Veneto side of Lake Garda has become one of the world's most renowned venues for high-performance sailing and every discipline of foiling.
Since 2014, Foiling Week has played a key role in promoting the region internationally, while Fraglia Vela Malcesine — itself recognised by The Foiling Organization as a Foiling Hub — has become one of the driving forces behind the event's development. Through the experience of its technical staff and the dedication of its volunteers, the Club has evolved into an essential operational partner in the growth and success of Foiling Week.
The on-water programme will feature some of the world's leading foiling classes, including strong WASZP and Switch One Design fleets, alongside ETF26, BirdyFish, Nikki and the Wingfoil programme scheduled during the second half of the event.
In recent years, Foiling Week has also welcomed an increasing number of athletes actively competing in Olympic classes, reflecting the growing convergence between Olympic sailing and foiling. This evolution is further reinforced by the recent collaboration announced between We Are Foiling, organiser of Foiling Week, and Sailing Grand Slam (SGS), the alliance bringing together the world's leading Olympic sailing events. Among the speakers at this year's Foiling Sport Congress will be SGS Director Ed Russo.
The athlete development programme is led by former Olympic sailor and We Are Foiling Head of Performance Giulia Conti, while racing operations will once again be directed by Tim Hancock, Head of Racing and Principal Race Officer of We Are Foiling, leading the international race management team throughout the event.
Special attention has also been dedicated to the public programme. Visitors will be able to take part in daily Tech Visits at Fraglia Vela Malcesine, experience foiling first-hand aboard the BirdyFish S during the Foiling Intro Experience, watch racing from dedicated Spectator Boats and, from July 1st to 4th, enjoy the innovative E-JetCycle experience. All activities take place at Fraglia Vela Malcesine and can be booked online at: foilingweek.com/product-category/fw26-experiences
On July 1st and 2nd, Fraglia Vela Malcesine will also host the second edition of the Foiling Sport Congress, organised by The Foiling Organization. Athletes, national federations, event organisers, companies and international stakeholders will discuss the key themes shaping the future of foiling, including sport development, safety, coaching, innovation, sustainability, technology, insurance and new opportunities for growth across the sector.
One of the most anticipated sessions will be "The Peak of Italian Foiling", scheduled for Tuesday, July 1st at 2:30 pm. Dedicated to the extraordinary momentum currently enjoyed by Italian foiling, the panel will explore the factors that have placed Italy among the world's leading foiling nations and what will be required to transform this exceptional moment into long-term leadership. Speakers include Marco Ribigini (Ferrari Hypersail), Jana Germani (Red Bull Italy SailGP), Ambrogio Beccaria, the first Italian sailor to win the Vendée Arctique, and Francesca Clapcich, the Trieste-born skipper of the IMOCA 11th Hour Racing campaign, joining live from the United States.
Further information and the full Foiling Sport Congress programme are available at: foiling.org
Among the new features of the 2026 edition, Alfa Romeo joins Foiling Week and the Foiling Sport Congress as Official Automotive Partner. The brand will showcase the new Giulia QV, while providing a fleet of vehicles supporting the event's logistics and hospitality operations.
Some of the week's most significant moments will also be produced and distributed worldwide through the global television network of Icarus Sports, bringing images of Foiling Week and the Veneto side of Lake Garda to international sports broadcasters.
Foiling Week is made possible thanks to the support of: REGIONE DEL VENETO | COMUNE DI MALCESINE | DESTINATION VERONA & GARDA FOUNDATION | WORLD SAILING | FRAGLIA VELA MALCESINE | AMAALA YACHT CLUB | ALFA ROMEO | CYCLOPS | GOTTIFREDI MAFFIOLI | HARKEN | KTOOL | NORTH SAILS | NORTH SHORE RISK LIMITED | PERSICO | PINDAR | SFT | SLAM | VAKAROS | WINGMAN | FLITE BOARD | FOIL DRIVE | JETCYCLE | UNIQOHR | WAYDOO | SPECK STUBE | STIEGL | TINAZZI