ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 Youth World Championships 2026 in Aarhus - Preview
by Agustín Argüelles 30 Jul 00:07 BST
1-9 August 2026
Aarhus International Sailing Center © Robert Deaves
The ILCA Class Association and Aarhus International Sailing Center are proud to welcome 877 young sailors from 56 nations to Aarhus, Denmark, for the 2026 ILCA 4 & ILCA 6 Youth World Championships, taking place from 1 to 19 August. Around 450 sailors will compete in the ILCA 4 Boys and Girls fleets, and around 430 in the ILCA 6 Boys and Girls fleets. The ILCA 4 fleet races from 1 to 9 August, followed directly by the ILCA 6 from 11 to 19 August.
Both classes are the heart of the ILCA's youth pathway, turning these two World Championships into one of the highlights of the sailing calendar: two weeks where the next generation of ILCA sailors race against the best of their peers from around the world, many with sights set on senior competition and the Olympic Games.
"Every Youth Worlds is a reminder of how strong and how global this class is," says ILCA President Mark Lyttle. "We're proud to welcome sailors from 56 nations to Aarhus, and we can't wait to see the racing this fleet is capable of. This is what the ILCA pathway is built for — wherever these sailors go next in the sport, Aarhus will be part of that story. We wish every one of them a great championship, on and off the water."
Racing will take place at Aarhus International Sailing Center, supported by Sport Event Denmark and the City of Aarhus, with more than 3,000 visitors expected over the course of the event.
"Hosting the two ILCA Youth World Championships back-to-back for the first time is also a significant occasion for us. Over the 19 championship days, we expect more than 3,000 international guests, and we look forward to creating two events that leave a lasting impression on the participants," says Jon Koch Hansen, CEO of Aarhus International Sailing Center.
Event websites: 2026ilca4youth.ilca-worlds.org / 2026ilca6youth.ilca-worlds.org