Nantucket Race Week 2026: Dates, Schedule and Opera House Cup Guide
Each August, Nantucket Harbor becomes the backdrop for one of the island’s most anticipated maritime celebrations. Nantucket Race Week 2026 returns from August 6 through August 16, bringing together youth sailors, experienced competitors, modern racing fleets and some of the world’s most remarkable classic yachts.
Now in its 23rd edition, Nantucket Race Week offers competitive racing alongside exhibitions, gatherings and community events. The celebration concludes with the 54th annual Opera House Cup on Sunday, August 16.
Nantucket Race Week 2026 at a Glance
When is Nantucket Race Week 2026?
Nantucket Race Week takes place from Thursday, August 6, through Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Where does Nantucket Race Week take place?
Racing is held in Nantucket Harbor and the surrounding waters of Nantucket Sound, with accompanying events at locations including Nantucket Boat Basin, Brant Point and Jetties Beach.
What is the main event?
Race Week culminates with the Opera House Cup, a celebrated classic yacht regatta held on Sunday, August 16.
Who benefits from Nantucket Race Week?
Proceeds support Nantucket Community Sailing’s youth programs, scholarships, community outreach, instructor development and equipment and safety needs.
What Is Nantucket Race Week?
Nantucket Race Week is the island’s premier sailing celebration, attracting hundreds of sailors and boats from New England and beyond. The schedule is designed to showcase the full spectrum of sailing, from youth Opti and 420 racing to one-design classes, women’s racing, kite and wing competition, modern racing yachts and historic wooden vessels.
Whether you are an experienced sailor or simply enjoy watching colorful sails cross the harbor, Race Week provides a memorable opportunity to experience Nantucket’s maritime heritage in action.
Nantucket Race Week 2026 Schedule Highlights
August 6–7: Youth Regattas
Race Week begins with two days of youth competition featuring the Youth Opti Regatta and 420 Regatta. These opening races highlight the next generation of sailors and the importance of sailing education on Nantucket.
August 8–9: One-Design and Multiclass Racing
The first weekend includes the One-Design Regatta and Kite and Winging Regatta on Saturday. Sunday’s competition features IODs, J/70s, Hobie 16s, Lasers and Melges 15s, filling the harbor with a diverse collection of racing fleets.
August 12: Women’s Regatta and Harbor Race
Racing resumes on Wednesday with the Women’s Regatta and Harbor Race, followed by the Kos Evans Rock & Royals Cocktail Party.
August 13–14: Celebrity Invitational and Nantucket Regatta
The Celebrity Invitational begins Thursday and continues Friday. The Nantucket Regatta starts on August 14, bringing larger racing yachts to the waters surrounding the island.
Friday evening also features Nantucket Community Sailing’s Sailing Into Our Future Gala, held from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
August 15: Classic Yacht Exhibition
Saturday includes another One-Design Regatta, the second day of the Nantucket Regatta and the Classic Yacht Exhibition at Nantucket Boat Basin.
Held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the exhibition provides a rare opportunity to step aboard selected historic yachts participating in the Opera House Cup and view their craftsmanship up close.
August 16: The Opera House Cup
Nantucket Race Week concludes with its signature event, the 54th annual Opera House Cup.
The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with the Parade of Yachts and Rainbow Parade at Brant Point. The warning signal is scheduled for 10:50 a.m., followed by an 11:00 a.m. base start.
What Makes the Opera House Cup Special?
The Opera House Cup was founded as the first all-wooden, single-hulled classic yacht regatta on the East Coast. Over the decades, it has grown into an internationally recognized celebration of traditional yacht design, craftsmanship and seamanship.
Past fleets have included America’s Cup winners and legendary yachts alongside schooners, Wianno Seniors and Herreshoff-designed Alerions. For 2026, eligible wooden boats will compete for the Opera House Cup, while qualifying non-wooden vessels in the Invitational Division will compete for the new Lighthouse Trophy, inspired by Great Point Lighthouse.
Following the race, the celebration continues at Jetties Beach with the ticketed Opera House Cup Awards Party, featuring dinner, music, dancing and the presentation of the year’s trophies.
Where Is the Best Place to Watch the Opera House Cup?
One of the most accessible spectator moments is the Parade of Yachts at Brant Point at 9:00 a.m. on August 16. Arrive early to see the fleet pass the lighthouse before heading into Nantucket Sound.
Spectators with access to a boat may also be able to view portions of the racing from the water, provided they remain safely outside the official racecourse and follow all instructions from race officials.
Planning Your Nantucket Race Week Visit
August is one of Nantucket’s busiest months, so visitors should reserve ferry transportation and accommodations as early as possible. High-speed and traditional ferry service is available from Hyannis, while seasonal and year-round flights arrive at Nantucket Memorial Airport.
Those bringing a boat should also arrange dockage or a mooring well in advance, as harbor space is particularly limited during Race Week. Visitors staying in Town can walk to many downtown and waterfront locations, with bicycles, taxis and seasonal ride-share services providing additional transportation options.
Celebrate Nantucket’s Sailing Tradition
Nantucket Race Week is more than a collection of regattas. It is a celebration of the island’s enduring connection to the sea, bringing together generations of sailors while helping make sailing more accessible to Nantucket’s youth and community.
From the first youth races to the final procession of classic yachts past Brant Point, Nantucket Race Week 2026 promises eleven days of competition, tradition and unforgettable scenes on the water.
Event times and details may change. Check the official Nantucket Race Week schedule before attending.