The Gulf of Naples is preparing to become the beating heart of world sailing. For the first time in history, the America's Cup - the oldest and most prestigious sailing competition on the planet - will be held in Italy, and the Campania capital will host the 2027 edition. The historic announcement comes directly from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who spoke of “national pride” and “a global event that celebrates tradition, innovation, competitive spirit and engineering excellence.”
It will be there Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup and will see the return to Europe of a symbolic event, this time set in the most authentic Mediterranean. A non-random choice, which rewards not only the Italian passion for sailing – embodied by the Luna Rossa crew – but also the teamwork between the Government, local institutions and organizers. “We bring the Cup to the people – commented Grant Dalton, CEO of Team New Zealand, the trophy holders – and Naples is the perfect place. There is enthusiasm, history, an incredible natural setting and a public that lives sport with their hearts”.
The decision is also a powerful driver of development for the city. The Government aims to make it the symbol of the new protagonism of the South: renovated infrastructures, redevelopment plans already underway, and a unique opportunity to rewrite the urban story of Bagnoli, which will be at the center of the transformation.
We are not starting from scratch. Naples had already hosted stages of the World Series in 2012 and 2013, bringing over a million spectators to the waterfront. But this time it is different. This time the entire city is preparing to set sail for a world challenge. And, as the prime minister said, “he will once again show the world what he is capable of.”
Article published on May 15, 2025 - 11:42 pm
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The announcement of the America's Cup in Italy is great news, but I don't know if Naples is ready for an event of this magnitude. There are many challenges to face and I hope the infrastructure will live up to expectations.