Torbay aims to become 'UK's watersports destination' after being named host for next year's World Cup
Plans are being put in place to make sure locals benefit and get involved in the international Stand Up Paddling World Cup
Last updated 12th Mar 2025
Plans have been unveiled for a ‘Festival Of The Ocean’ - alongside next Summer's Stand Up Paddleboard World Championships - as Torbay aims to become a hub for British watersports.
The competition, next June, will be the first time a five-day event of such scale has been held in the UK and there will also be hundreds of volunteer roles for locals to get involved.
Event director and multiple world record holder Brendon Prince says it’ll bring a economic boost:
Torbay is also home to Brendon's SupTwelve endurance event with Brendon, a local water safety campaigner, best known for becoming the first person to circumnavigate mainland Britain on a paddleboard.
The five-day event will be held from 24 to 28 June 2026 and is expected to attract around 200 of the World’s best athletes, as well as up to a thousand other paddlers who will take part in a festival of paddling, that will 'showcase the breadth of SUP from recreational paddlers to elite competition'.
The world cup will be the first time that an ICF Stand Up Paddling (SUP) event of this scale has been held in the UK and the first since Paddle UK was announced as a governing body for the sport in February 2023.
Cllr Jackie Thomas, Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Tourism, Culture and Events, said: "Our beautiful Bay enjoys worldwide importance with our designation as the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, and it will be a fabulous backdrop to the events out on the water.
“As one of the UK’s premier coastal resorts, we look forward to offering a warm welcome to the many competitors, support teams and visitors that the event will attract from around the world to our sparkling waters and award-winning beaches.
“We are sure they will appreciate the results of our work with partners and our whole community to deliver an ongoing exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability, water quality, safety, and beach management across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.”
Carolyn Custerson, CEO of English Riviera BID Company, added: “We are delighted to welcome the ICF Stand Up Paddling World Cup to the English Riviera in 2026. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase our stunning coastline to a global audience and reinforce our reputation as a premier water sports destination in the UK."
Ashley Metcalfe, Chief Executive of Paddle UK, said: “We know that stand up paddling has grown over the last five years and is hugely popular with our members and recreational paddlers.
“I look forward to working with key partners and stakeholders on the English Riviera to deliver an excellent event and help support the area to become the number one destination for stand up paddling.”
The SUP World Cup event will be supported by the English Riviera Business Improvement District (BID) Company and Torbay Council.
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