Historic IHRA-Sanctioned F1 Powerboat Racing to Launch 2026 Season at Bradenton Area River Regatta
The 2026 motorsports season will roar to life on Florida’s Gulf Coast as the Bradenton Area River Regatta returns for its 11th year with a landmark first for powerboat racing. The two-day, free spectator event takes place Friday and Saturday, February 20 and 21, 2026, along the riverfronts of Bradenton and Palmetto, and will feature the first Formula One Powerboat race officially sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association.
The IHRA F1 Powerboat Series will headline the weekend, marking the debut of IHRA-sanctioned powerboat competition and the official kickoff of racing under the association’s newly expanded powerboating umbrella. The milestone signals a significant evolution for IHRA, a long-recognized premier motorsports sanctioning body, as it broadens its portfolio to include high-performance marine racing.
Spectators can expect the most powerful and technologically advanced race boats ever seen at the Regatta. In addition to the headline F1 class, the racing program will include F-Lights and Tri-Hulls, with Tri-Hulls making their first-ever appearance at the event. Together, the classes promise fast-paced, high-adrenaline competition along the Manatee River shoreline.
The Regatta maintains its popular two-day, all-free format. Festivities begin Friday, February 20, with Friday Night Flash, featuring live music from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion Stage, followed by a large-scale drone light show culminating in fireworks over the river.
On Saturday, February 21, activities begin at 10 a.m. and center on the Florida Formula 1 Championship powerboat racing, complemented by live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and waterfront celebrations throughout the day. The weekend concludes with a free racing awards ceremony at the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa starting at 6 p.m., followed by a concert by the Beach Buoys, Florida’s premier Beach Boys tribute band.
Local leaders say the Regatta continues to be a significant economic driver and tourism draw for the region, with the addition of Formula One powerboats expected to elevate the event to new heights in 2026. Organizers note that hosting faster and more powerful boats reflects both the growth of the Regatta and the increasing national profile of the Bradenton–Palmetto waterfront.
Additional updates, schedules, and media assets are available at bradentonarearegatta.com, with ongoing announcements shared through the event’s official social media channels.
