On the morning of February 27, the Information Office of Qingdao Municipal People's Government held a press conference to introduce the details of the"Qingdao Stopover for the 2025-26 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race."
The year 2026 marks the beginning of the"15th Five-Year Plan" period and also represents a significant milestone – the 20th anniversary of Qingdao's partnership with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. To thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and demonstrate Qingdao's role in"striving to lead and taking on major responsibilities," the city is set to host another international sporting event. Following meticulous planning and solid preparations, the Qingdao Stopover for the 2025-26 Clipper Race will be held from March 4th to 12th at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. Adhering to the principle of frugality and economical hosting, this edition of the Qingdao Stopover aims to be"more innovative, more distinctive, higher-standard, and more influential." The goal is to create a world-class nautical sports and cultural celebration that highlights Qingdao's unique characteristics, meets international standards, combines professional guidance with public participation, and vividly portrays the open image and vibrant vitality of a modern socialist international metropolis in the new era.
Key Information about the Qingdao Stopover for the 2025-26 Clipper Race:
I. Overview of the 2025-26 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
The 2025-26 Clipper Race season officially departed from Portsmouth, UK, on August 31, 2025 (local time). The season comprises 8 legs and 13 individual races, covering a total distance of 40,000 nautical miles. The entire voyage lasts nearly 11 months, with the race expected to conclude in July 2026. Qingdao, as one of the world's key host ports, is the 8th stop on this global voyage. This season has attracted over 700 sailing enthusiasts from more than 50 countries and regions, forming 10 competing teams.
II. Main Activities for the Qingdao Stopover
(A) Three Ceremonies, Ushering in the"Qingdao Reunion Moment"
To warmly welcome the Clipper fleet for its tenth visit, Qingdao will continue its tradition by meticulously crafting three main ceremonies: the Welcome, Prize-Giving, and Departure ceremonies. These aim to present the openness and humanistic charm of the"Sailing City" comprehensively and vividly through a sense of solemn ceremony, immersive experience, and urban belonging.
Welcoming the Homecoming, Embracing a Reunion: Based on current sailing estimates, the 10 teams will arrive in Qingdao between March 4th and 6th, marking the start of"Qingdao Time" for the race. The stopover period coincides with the time around the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival. The festive and reunion atmosphere will be the main theme for welcoming"Qingdao" and the other competing boats back to their home port. Upon arrival,"one-on-one" welcome ceremonies will be organized at the dock, featuring traditional dragon and lion dances and drumming to convey the warmth and respect of the Qingdao people to international friends, allowing the world to experience the strong festive atmosphere and urban warmth of a traditional Chinese holiday.
Moment of Glory, Showcasing the Light of Competition: During the stopover, the prize-giving ceremony for the Subic Bay (Philippines) to Qingdao ("Sailing City of Qingdao") race segment will be held. The ceremony will break away from traditional models. Besides honoring sporting achievements for the segment, it will also create a diverse showcase platform integrating sailing culture, urban culture, and maritime civilization, allowing the glory of sports and cultural charm to enhance each other.
Setting Sail for Distant Shores, Embarking on a Grand Voyage: On March 12th, the Departure Ceremony will be held at the Qingdao Stopover to cheer and bid farewell to the teams as they head to the next leg. The 10 Clipper yachts will form a sailing formation and depart in an orderly manner along the front shoreline of Fushan Bay. Citizens and tourists can wave goodbye from viewing points like the Olympic Sailing Center and May Fourth Square, witnessing the fleet set sail and chase their dreams on the deep blue sea up close.
(B) Ten Scenarios, A Two-Way Commitment Between Qingdao and the Clipper Race
The Clipper Race is not just an international sporting event but also a vital platform connecting the world, promoting mutual learning among civilizations, showcasing the city's image, and deepening international cooperation. Focusing on the core elements of"cultural exchange, interactive experiences, and business links," the Qingdao Stopover will plan and launch ten signature activities. These include Clipper crew visits to communities and schools, an International Women's Day cultural exchange event, historical and cultural tours, as well as boat boarding experiences, sailing experiences, partner brand promotions, business networking events,"Image Qingdao" activities, and media meetings. Using sailing as a link and the ocean as a medium, the goal is to deeply integrate international sailing culture with Qingdao's local characteristics, enabling the world to better understand and appreciate Qingdao while allowing sailing culture to integrate deeply into citizens' lives and empower urban development.
Visiting Communities and Districts, Getting to Know Charming Qingdao: During the stopover, Clipper crews will visit characteristic historical and cultural districts like Guangxingli in Dabaodao, immersing themselves in Qingdao's century-old commercial port history and coastal cityscape. They will delve into communities to observe and experience intangible cultural heritage projects such as paper-cutting, Tai Chi, and Maoqiang opera, experiencing the unique charm of Chinese culture amidst the rich Chinese New Year atmosphere. A"National Essence & Craftsmanship" traditional culture experience activity will be organized in collaboration with the Municipal Women's Federation. Simultaneously, a themed"Qingdao Through the Eyes of the Crew" writing and photography campaign will be launched, encouraging crews from various countries to document Qingdao's landscapes, cultural customs, and exciting race moments from their unique perspectives, preserving beautiful memories and emotional connections across borders.
Face-to-Face School Visits, Nurturing Sailing Dreams: During the Qingdao Stopover, face-to-face exchange activities targeting different groups will be organized. To promote youth sports and sailing culture, Clipper crews will visit schools with distinctive sailing programs, conducting themed sharing sessions and interactive exchanges, planting the spirit of sailing and the belief in striving in the hearts of young people. Crew media meetings will be held to share stories of global voyages and promote marine sports culture, further stimulating societal interest and support for sailing sports and fostering a love for the ocean.
Zero-Distance Public Experience, Creating a"People's Festival": Public welfare activities accessible to all, such as static boat tours and dynamic sailing experiences, will be offered during the Qingdao Stopover, making this international event truly tangible and accessible for locals. Citizens and tourists will have the opportunity to board the 70-foot Clipper yachts, get a close-up look at the living spaces of these global sailors, interact face-to-face with the crew, and personally experience the unique thrill of sailing on a large yacht, transitioning from being a"spectator" to an"experiencer."
Strengthening Brand Links, Tapping into the"Sports+" Growth Potential: Qingdao will actively build new scenarios to promote cooperation and mutual benefits. A brand promotion event for Qingdao Stopover partners will be held to help local enterprises and quality brands expand into international markets. International business networking events will deepen practical cooperation between Qingdao and other global host ports in trade, culture, tourism, sports, and the marine industry, using sports as a catalyst to activate new urban economic growth points and promote integrated development.
III. Outcomes of 20 Years of Cooperation
Since partnering with the Clipper Race, Qingdao has strategically, globally, and systematically promoted the symbiosis and co-prosperity of the event and the city, achieving a series of leading and exemplary results.
Naming"Qingdao," Creating a Globally Mobile City Card: Qingdao was the first Asian host city for the Clipper Race. At the start of the partnership in the 2005-06 season, Qingdao named the yacht after the city, and"Qingdao" set sail and gained global fame. Over 20 years,"Qingdao" has sailed over 400,000 nautical miles, becoming the most recognizable, communicative, and influential mobile promotional vehicle for the"Sailing City." Leveraging international media channels,"Qingdao" attracts continuous coverage from over 30 global media outlets each season, including China Central Television (CCTV), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Cable News Network (CNN), and national broadcasters in Australia and South Africa.
Cultivating"Qingdao Ambassador Crew," Building a Pool of Professional Sailing Talent: Qingdao innovatively implemented an ambassador crew selection and training program, cultivating nearly 100 global sailors over 20 years. It has produced internationally influential Chinese sailing figures like Guo Chuan and Song Kun. It has also smoothed the path for youth sailing普及 and growth. In recent years, more and more sailing enthusiasts trained through the"Sailing into Schools" program have joined the"Qingdao Ambassador Crew." As event participants, city ambassadors, and cultural disseminators, they spread sailing culture and promote the city's spirit, forming a reserve force for the development of sailing.
Creating a Unique"Qingdao Sailing Festival," Shaping a Distinctive Urban Cultural IP: Qingdao was the first stopover to create a dedicated themed cultural event for the Clipper Race, earning the title"Most Distinctive Stopover" from the UK organizers. By systematically building the three-ceremony system (Welcome, Prize-Giving, Departure) and regularly conducting activities like crew visits to communities/schools and public boat boarding experiences, a unique nautical festival brand with oceanic characteristics and Qingdao's distinctive style has been formed. This has made the"Sailing City" cultural identity more distinct, continuously enhanced its international influence, and significantly boosted the city's soft power.
Activating the"Qingdao Stopover Engine," Unlocking the Potential of the Event Economy: Relying on the event, new paths for collaborative development across sports, culture, tourism, commerce, and investment have been explored, transforming the appeal of international events into urban economic growth drivers. The influx of domestic and international tourists creates new spring tourism consumption hotspots like event tourism, city tours, and consumer spending, yielding significant direct economic benefits. According to incomplete statistics, footfall in the Olympic Sailing Center scenic area increased by approximately 106.8% quarter-on-quarter during the 2023-24 stopover, with hotels around the center fully booked and the catering and retail sectors bustling. Additionally, platforms for negotiation and diverse cooperation spaces are actively built to tap cooperation potential and boost urban economic development.
Promoting"Made in Qingdao" on the Global Stage, Upgrading the Nautical Industry: Leveraging the event platform, local Qingdao shipbuilders have consistently won bids to construct Clipper Race yachts. The 70-foot yachts, in use since the 2013-14 season, have served the Clipper Race safely for 14 years, with their performance and quality receiving high international recognition. The new generation of 12"Made in Qingdao" 72-foot ocean racing yachts is expected to be fully operational for the 2027 season, marking a step where Qingdao's marine equipment manufacturing moves from local production to global recognition, continuously polishing the"Made in Qingdao" gold-lettered sign.
Twenty years of shared dreams, ten times setting sail together. On March 4th, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will make its tenth stop in Qingdao. This is not only a sporting event but also an appointment for culture and cooperation. We hope citizens and friends will continue to follow the event, actively participate in the experiences, and jointly witness the"Sailing City" seizing the momentum, embarking on a new journey, and continuing to write its brilliant chapter!