100-day countdown begins for global SUP World Cup in Torbay

The countdown is on as the English Riviera prepares to host one of the biggest watersports events ever staged in the UK.

With just 100 days to go, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) SUP World Cup and Paddle UK SUPER Festival will arrive in Torbay from June 24 to 28, bringing world-class competition, community events and a major tourism boost to the bay.

Centred around Torre Abbey Sands, the event will see around 200 elite paddleboarders compete in sprint, technical and distance races, with £9,000 in prize money up for grabs in the open categories. In total, more than 1,000 athletes and up to 5,000 spectators are expected across the five-day festival.

Organised by Paddle UK in partnership with Torbay Council and the English Riviera BID Company, the event marks the first time the UK has hosted an ICF-accredited stand-up paddleboarding championship.

Ashley Metcalfe, CEO of Paddle UK, said: “With only 100 days to go, it’s fantastic to be working with Torbay Council as excitement builds towards this summer’s event.

“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 elite competition, the SUPER Festival will transform Torquay and Paignton’s seafronts into a hub of activity, with family-friendly races, SUP polo, live entertainment, food stalls and ‘have a go’ sessions for beginners.

A standout moment will be an ambitious world record attempt to get around 1,000 paddleboarders on the water at once — a spectacle expected to draw crowds across the bay.

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.”

Carolyn Custerson, CEO of the English Riviera BID Company, added: “The SUP World Cup is a significant opportunity to showcase the English Riviera to a global audience, and this is something we are incredibly proud of.”

Torbay Council’s cabinet member for tourism, Cllr Jackie Thomas, said the event would highlight the area’s natural strengths.

She 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.”

Festival activity will centre around a dedicated event village near Torre Abbey Sands, featuring trade stands, workshops, demonstrations and social spaces, while accommodation providers across the bay are preparing for an influx of visitors.

The event follows the 2025 World Championships in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the rapid global growth of stand-up paddleboarding and cementing Torbay’s place on the international stage.

Further information and registration details can be found at: www.superfestival.paddleuk.org.uk