site.btaRound of World Powerboat Championship to Take Place in Bulgaria in August 2026

Bulgaria will host a round of the World Powerboat Championship in August, 2026, Todor Hristov, Chair of the Bulgarian Powerboat Federation, said on Tuesday.

"This is an exceptional opportunity for the country. Bulgaria will present itself on the global powerboating stage and will attract the attention of all fans of high-speed water sports. The competition will take place in Ruse on the Danube River and will include not only the royal F500 class, but also a European Championship round in the GT15 junior class for competitors up to 16 years of age, using boats with engines of 70–80 horsepower," Hristov said.

He stressed that hosting the event is a natural step following the success of Bulgarian competitors in recent years.

"We have a two-time European champion, Nikola Todorov, who is also a world vice-champion, as well as a number of other talented racers. It was time for our young athletes to see how major international competitions are organized here in Bulgaria, instead of travelling all over Europe. This is a chance for them to be inspired and to experience real competition at world level. We expect around 30–35 boats in the royal class and 25–30 in the junior class," Hristov added.

He also highlighted the role of the Wave Riders Academy for children, which has already attracted strong interest.

"Each event draws between five and 15 children, who learn discipline, skills and courage while having fun and experiencing an extreme sport in a safe environment. This is an investment in the future of powerboating in Bulgaria," Hristov concluded.