In an announcement that will surely fire up espresso machines and Cup fans alike, the Italian government, Team New Zealand, and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have confirmed Naples as the host city for the 38th edition of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup, set for the spring and summer of 2027.
This marks the first time the Cup Match—and the full Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series—will take place in Italy, a nation whose America’s Cup history is long and often dramatic.
“We’re bringing it to the people,” said Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton. “There’s a raw spirit and pride in Italy that just feels right for the Cup.”
And maybe a little dangerous—Dalton admits this move puts the Defender right into the lion’s den, with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli syndicate likely to receive thunderous home support.
There is no question that Naples is spectacular venue. Its stunning Gulf waters are flanked by the Castel dell’Ovo and the cliffs of Posillipo. Racing will take place just off the city's waterfront with the magnificent Mount Vesuvius volcano creating a truly iconic backdrop to the on-the-water action.
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The team bases will be located in the Bagnoli district—a long-neglected industrial zone now undergoing a full-scale urban and environmental transformation. For Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi, the Cup represents more than sailing. It’s an engine for renewal.
“The choice of Naples enhances our territory, boosts tourism, and promotes the sea economy,” said Abodi. “This will make all Italians proud and leave the rest of the world breathless.”
Naples, of course, is no stranger to America’s Cup racing. The city hosted two wildly popular World Series events in 2012 and 2013 in the lead up to the 34th America's Cup, drawing over a million spectators to the waterfront.
Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi called the win “an extraordinary international showcase” that is expected to deliver economic impacts on par with what Barcelona and Valencia experienced. More than just spectacle, he sees the event as a way to rewrite the city’s story—especially in Bagnoli.
"Hosting the 38th America's Cup in Naples represents an extraordinary international showcase for the beauty and history of our territory," he said.
"The event is set to be the most significant sporting occasion ever hosted by Naples, transforming the city's iconic Gulf into a stage for spectacular races among the world's elite sailing teams. An opportunity to show the world not only the beauty of our landscape, but also the city's ability to competently address the great challenges of the present.
The complex work of environmental remediation and redevelopment in Bagnoli is already underway and progressing according to plan. The America's Cup will serve as a powerful accelerator for tourism, the maritime economy, local entrepreneurship, and the development of new skills, providing a tangible preview of what this area can become upon completion of its urban regeneration.
With Naples now confirmed, planning will gather pace for the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series and the 38th Louis Vuitton America's Cup Match – along with the Youth America’s Cup and the Women’s America’s Cup, both of which make a popular return after their success at AC37 in Barcelona.
More details on the venue will come in the months ahead, but with the timing and host city now announced, the next major milestone on the road to the 38th America's Cup will be the publication of the AC38 Protocol – the document which defines the rules and format of the next edition.
Once that is out in the public domain the next step is for teams to start to announce their challenges, with the new 'home' team Luna Rossa expected to be the first to break cover.
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