Belgian SUP Tour 2026: New formats and events to strengthen elite racing and community participation

The Belgian SUP Tour (BST) has released its new race calendar as the circuit enters a new chapter in its evolution, alongside the development of new international partnerships. Over the past four years, the series has grown rapidly — not only in the number of events but also in the strength of its community and organisational structure.

With the foundations now firmly in place, the tour is shifting its focus toward the next stage of development. Driven by feedback from athletes and the wider SUP community, the circuit is placing a stronger emphasis on long-distance and ultra-long-distance racing, reflecting a significant shift and growing uptake of this format.

Ahead of the kick-off of the tour’s major event, Paddle of the Kempen held on 25-26 April, we caught up with the brain behind the series, Vincent Claekens, to understand where the tour is heading next, and to get a sneak peek at what’s new and what’s in store for the circuit’s next chapter.

Vincent Claekens competing in SUP 11 City Tour | Photo by: Mayola Photography

Hi Vincent, welcome back to TotalSUP! The 2026 SUP race calendar introduces several exciting developments. What are the key highlights, and what makes this season stand out from previous years?

The 2026 season marks a significant step forward in the structured development of stand-up paddleboarding in Belgium, reinforcing our ambition to build a strong national competitive platform that enables athletes to progress domestically before stepping onto the international stage. This year, that vision becomes more concrete than ever.

The calendar features 12 Belgian SUP races across Sprint, Technical, Long Distance and Ultra Long Distance disciplines, with key events serving as official pre-selections for the ICF European Championships, including Paddle of the Kempen (BST 1-2-3), the Belgian Championships Technical Race (BST 4), the Belgian Championships Sprint + Technical (BST 6-7), and Antwerp on Water (BST 8-9), creating a clear and transparent pathway toward international performance.

The season also strengthens international collaboration, with The Longest Day (22 August) as part of the Double 10 Challenge alongside the 10 Hours of Vassivière in France, and the Open Belgian Ultra Long Distance Championships “L’enfer des Cannaux (du Nord)” on the Lys (BST Race 10) consolidating Belgium’s Ultra Long Distance positioning.
What sets 2026 apart is its balance between national structuring, Benelux integration, Franco-Belgian cooperation, and the ambition to progressively position selected events on the international map.

With the expansion of Paddle of the Kempen, the launch of  Eilandje in Antwerp, and the introduction of the Border Canal Raid, how do these developments reflect the broader vision for growing the Belgian SUP Tour and building new partnerships to advance the sport?

From the outset, the Belgian SUP Tour was designed as more than a race series. It serves as a development platform for the sport in Belgium and beyond.

Paddle of the Kempen evolves into a full multi-discipline weekend with Sprint, Technical and Long Distance races. This reflects the ambition to elevate certain events to a format that meets international standards. A two-day structure with three disciplines is a natural evolution if Belgium aims to host competitions capable of attracting foreign elite paddlers.

Antwerp on Water (‘t Eilandje) is strategically important. Hosted in the renovated docks of Antwerp (Kattendijkdok), the event combines Long Distance and Technical Race formats over two days. Antwerp is a major European port city, and positioning SUP in such an urban environment sends a strong signal about the sport’s maturity and visibility. It also opens doors to corporate partnerships and city-level collaboration.

Raid des Canaux (Aire-sur-la-Lys – Comines) strengthens cooperation with French partners and positions Ultra Long Distance as a serious discipline within the Belgian SUP Tour. The race serves as an Open Belgian ULD Championship, underlining the ambition to internationalise while maintaining a clear national identity.

Beyond individual events, 2026 further reinforces the BeNe SUP Tour integration with SUPNL. Cross-border rankings increase competition density and support athlete development across the Benelux.

All these developments follow one guiding principle: build strong local events with clubs and municipalities first, and then allow them to grow naturally toward international relevance.

How do the new formats – from multi-discipline weekends to ultra long-distance racing – create new opportunities for both elite athletes and the wider SUP community?

The strength of the Belgian SUP Tour lies in combining clear performance pathways with broad accessibility.

For elite athletes, the 2026 structure offers several important opportunities. It includes clear pre-selection races for the ICF Stand Up Paddling European Championships and exposure to multi-discipline weekends that mirror international competition formats. Ultra Long Distance events such as The Longest Day and Raid des Cannaux further broaden athletic profiles and reward endurance alongside technical skill.

The Double 10 Challenge and the “Enfer des Cannaux (du Nord)”, linking Belgium and France, place a strong emphasis on versatility and stamina. Together, these initiatives help position Belgian athletes within a wider European competitive context.

For the wider SUP community, inclusivity remains a deliberate priority. The established Fun class on inflatable boards continues to be part of the structure, ensuring that newcomers can participate without specialised equipment. Kids and youth categories are fully integrated into the official race framework, while team formats allow companies, clubs and groups of friends to take part together.

This dual approach – combining an elite performance structure with a low threshold for entry – is essential. A sport grows sustainably when high performance inspires newcomers, while newcomers feel welcome within a professional and well-organised framework.

Ultimately, the vision is simple: first, create a strong Belgian competitive base; second, build international bridges with neighbouring countries; and third, progressively position selected events as international reference races. All of this happens while keeping SUP accessible, attractive and professionally organised. The Belgian SUP Tour 2026 reflects that growing maturity.

Thank you for your insight Vincent – we can’t wait to follow the events!

Register for the Paddle of the Kempen 2026 here.

To find out more and register for the Belgian SUP Tour, visit belgiansuptour.be

Join the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) group on Facebook and follow BST on Instagram 

*Images courtesy of Belgian SUP Tour (BST)