European Championship
Brest / Ploudalmézeau – FRANCE
August 26 to 30, 2026
Brest region
At the western edge of Europe, where the continent gives way to the Atlantic Ocean, Brest opens onto one of the continent's largest and most diverse maritime territories. Here, the sea is not just a backdrop: it is a force, a history, a source of expertise, and a demanding playground.
Hosting the European Ocean Racing Championship in Brest means placing this sporting event at the heart of a region where sailing naturally interacts with nature, science, and human adventure. It means offering competitors a challenging and predictable stretch of water, true to the spirit of ocean racing: autonomy, understanding of the environment, humility, and commitment.
From August 26 to 30, 2026, Brest will welcome Europe's kayaking community to a region where every stroke of the paddle is part of a long maritime history, between land and ocean.
Brest prend le large
Brest Sets Sail
In Brest, the sea is neither a backdrop nor a distant horizon. It shapes our territory, our history and the way we engage with the world. Hosting the European Ocean Racing Championships here therefore feels like a natural choice. Above all, it is a great source of pride.
For several days, 350 competitors from across Europe will take to the water in a demanding environment shaped by currents, winds and the exceptional landscapes of our coastline. This high-level competition, combining performance and endurance, will find here a setting worthy of its ambitions.
I would like to commend the commitment of the CKCB and Estran Ploudalmézeau, who are jointly organising this event, as well as the work of the many volunteers, partners and local authorities who have contributed alongside them. Their commitment reflects the vitality of the water sports clubs in our region and their ability to deliver ambitious projects.
The championships will naturally be followed by the Fête de la Mer, giving the public an opportunity to discover the many facets of the maritime world and, in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, to experience what makes Brest so special: its openness, its hospitality and its deep connection with the ocean.
To all the European delegations, competitors and visitors, I extend a warm welcome to Brest and wish you a wonderful championship.
Stéphane ROUDAUT
Mayor of Brest
notre histoire et notre manière d’habiter le monde. Accueillir ici le Championnat
d’Europe d’Ocean Racing apparait comme une évidence. Mais c’est surtout une
grande fierté.
Pendant plusieurs jours, 350 compétiteurs venus de nombreux pays européens
évolueront dans un environnement exigeant, façonné par les courants, le vent et les
paysages exceptionnels de notre littoral. Cette compétition de haut niveau, qui
conjugue performance et endurance, trouvera ici un terrain à la mesure de son
ambition.
Je tiens à saluer l’engagement du CKCB et de l’Estran Ploudalmézeau, qui portent
ensemble cet événement, ainsi que le travail des nombreux bénévoles, partenaires
et collectivités qui ont œuvré à leurs côtés. Leur mobilisation témoigne de la vitalité
des clubs nautiques de notre territoire et de leur capacité à porter des projets
ambitieux.
Ce championnat trouvera un prolongement naturel avec la Fête de la mer qui
permettra au grand public de découvrir les multiples visages du monde maritime et
de partager, dans un cadre convivial, ce qui fait la richesse de Brest : son ouverture,
son sens de l’accueil et son attachement à l’océan.
À toutes les délégations européennes, aux compétitrices et compétiteurs, ainsi
qu’aux visiteurs, je souhaite la bienvenue à Brest et de très beaux championnats.
Stéphane ROUDAUT – Maire de Brest
The organizers
The 2026 European Ocean Racing Championships are being organized by two major players in the world of canoeing and kayaking in Brittany: the Canoë Kayak Club Brestois and L’Estran Ploudalmézeau. Based in northern Finistère, these two clubs share the same culture of the sea, sporting commitment, and passing on knowledge.
Recognized as clubs that train high-level ocean racing competitors, they have been supporting top athletes on national and international circuits for many years. Their joint work is based on in-depth knowledge of the marine environment, the demanding ocean conditions off the coast of Brittany, and a rigorous approach to training and safety.
For the past four years, the Canoë Kayak Club Brestois and Estran Ploudalmézeau have co-organized the Breizh Ocean Race, an international race that has become a benchmark in the ocean racing calendar. Every year, this event brings together leading athletes and demonstrates the two clubs' ability to design, structure, and secure large-scale competitions in open sea environments.
Building on this shared experience, their complementary strengths, and their strong regional roots, the two clubs are fully committed to organizing the 2026 European Ocean Racing Championship, with the ambition of delivering a high-level, demanding sporting event that stays true to the spirit of ocean racing and the maritime identity of northern Finistère.
