Copa del Rey MAPFRE de Vela 2026 — Palma
Spain's most prestigious sailing regatta brings a fleet of racing yachts — and a royal name — to the Bay of Palma.
The Copa del Rey is the Mediterranean's leading big-boat regatta and a fixture of the Spanish summer, drawing top international crews to race across the Bay of Palma over a week around the turn of August. Long associated with the Spanish royal family, it turns the waterfront into a spectacle of sails by day and a lively social scene by night around the Real Club Náutico.
What to expect. Fleets of racing yachts working the bay — best watched from the Paseo Marítimo, the cathedral seafront or a boat trip out to the course. On land, the club village and city bars hum with the regatta crowd. Dates shift slightly each year, so confirm before planning around it.
Practical bit. Everything centres on Palma's waterfront, so a city base is ideal. If you're combining the racing with the island, a hire car opens up the beaches and hill villages beyond the bay — though for the regatta itself, staying near the Paseo Marítimo keeps you in the thick of it.