ICF SUP World Cup & SUPER Festival 2026: Historic UK first goes full send – Open to all paddlers!

The UK SUP racing scene has long been one of the most established in the sport – home to world-class athletes, active training hubs and events that bring together not only elite racers, but also aspiring athletes, recreational paddlers, and adventure seekers alike.

Now, the scene reaches a historic new milestone. The English Riviera has been selected by the International Canoe Federation as a host venue for the SUP World Cup – a landmark step that firmly places the UK on the international racing calendar.

From 24 – 28 June 2026, the English Riviera will host the ICF SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival 2026. Set against the turquoise waters and sheltered bays of Torquay and Paignton in the southwest of England, the five-day celebration of stand-up paddleboarding will unite elite athletes, community paddlers, and newcomers eager to experience the sport for the first time.

In the run-up to the event, we caught up with Richard Stacey-Chapman, Events and Competition Manager at Paddle UK, and Samantha Rutt, elite racer, coach, and member of the International Canoe Federation SUP Committee, to discuss why this event marks such a significant milestone for the sport – not only because of its scale and international relevance, but also what paddlers and spectators can expect from this historic edition.

Photo by Sarah Thornely /  supjunkie.uk

In chat with Richard Stacey-Chapman, Events and Competition Manager at Paddle UK

Hi Richard, welcome to TotalSUP and let’s dive right in! This is a milestone moment – the first International Canoe Federation SUP World Cup of this scale on British waters. What does it mean for the UK to host an event like this right now?

Thanks for having me! It’s a really exciting time for SUP in the UK. Paddle UK has seen a huge increase in the number of people getting out on the water in the last few years and so we wanted to bring in an event that would showcase SUP racing and inspire people to take the next steps on their paddling journey.

To have the opportunity to bring an ICF World Cup allows us to host some of the top athletes in the world, provide competition to top British paddlers and create a festival to engage wider audiences with the sport.

Richard Stacey-Chapman, Paddle UK

Coming just a couple of years after Paddle UK became one of the official national governing body for SUP, how significant is this event in establishing the UK on the global stage?

It’s really important for Paddle UK and the sport as a whole. Across recent years, we have hosted a number of ICF events across multiple disciplines and have a reputation for delivering high quality events that paddlers want to come back to. To be able to do that for SUP is a massive opportunity and will allow us to establish the UK as a great destination for SUP racing and paddling in general.

For the paddlers, we hope to see some British athletes winning medals on their home waters, whilst for others it will give them a chance to compete in their first international event which could be a pivotal part of their development.

Photo by Sarah Thornely /  supjunkie.uk

Do you see this ICF World Cup and SUPER Festival as a catalyst moment for participation in SUP across the UK – and how do you plan to build on that momentum?

Our aspiration for the Paddle UK Super Festival is to provide anyone the opportunity to take part at the right level for them, whether that is their existing level or taking a next step. For someone who has never paddled before that might try it for the first time, for a recreational paddler they might try a mass paddle or racing, for a racer they can compete internationally.

We’re really fortunate to have some fantastic races and events in the UK and we’ve recently launched a race organisers network which brings these events together. That network will be at the Festival to engage with paddlers and promote the events they can join in for the rest of this year and beyond.

Stand-up paddleboarding has increased in popularity over the last few years, with an increase in Paddle UK members who SUP. As a governing body we provide key safety information working closely with the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) as well as opportunities to learn, upskill and lead. The event is a real opportunity to share this messaging with a wider audience.

Photo by Sarah Thornely /  supjunkie.uk

This event combines world-class racing with a festival atmosphere – how important is it to balance elite competition with an accessible, inclusive experience for all?

It’s critical. Paddling is fun, accessible and inclusive so we need to showcase that at every level. International success is important but even at that level, if paddlers don’t enjoy it, they won’t compete.

We’re creating a festival that combines the range of on water activities with off water offerings such as a festival village with live music, food and drink and a range of trade stands. Paddlers, friends, family and the general public will enjoy a fantastic weekend of sport, entertainment and sunshine, set against a glorious backdrop of the turquoise waters and sheltered bays of Torquay and Paignton.

Photo by Sarah Thornely /  supjunkie.uk

What can newcomers and recreational paddlers expect from SUPER Festival, and how does it fit into your broader vision for growing the sport?

As an organisation, we want to encourage everyone to go paddling; for enjoyment, health, challenge and achievement and this event delivers on all aspects of that. With have a go sessions, an AquaPaddle, races for all abilities, SUPolo and the SUP 1,000 mass paddle, there really is something for everyone. The event will also provide an opportunity to share key safety messaging to help keep paddlers safe whilst on the water as well.

Photo by Sarah Thornely /  supjunkie.uk

The English Riviera itself is a natural choice of location to paddle. The shelter provided by Dartmoor to the northwest and the natural horseshoe shaped coastline provides a calm, shallow sea and a warm microclimate which is perfect for those new to paddleboarding and those who are more experienced. We’re really excited to showcase all aspects of SUP and to see the legacy the event will create for both the English Riviera and the whole of the UK whether inland or at the coast.

Photo by Brendon Prince

In chat with Samantha Rutt, elite racer, Coach and Member of the ICF Committee

Hi Sam, welcome back to TotalSUP. As both a professional racer and someone deeply involved in the sport’s development, how significant is it to see an International Canoe Federation SUP World Cup of this scale taking place in the UK?

Thanks, it’s really great to be back and thanks for all your support. Honestly, it’s pretty special to see an ICF SUP World Cup happening at this scale in the UK. It feels like a real milestone for the sport, especially for those of us who’ve been involved for a long time and have watched it grow from something quite niche into what it is now.

On a personal level, having an event like this on home waters just hits differently. It gives UK paddlers a chance to compete at a really high level without having to travel, so for those who haven’t had a chance to compete in Europe, or further afield it offers a taste of international racing right on their doorstep.

My hope is that this event will leave a legacy that we see grow throughout the UK, we are currently behind a lot of European countries in terms of our junior development, we have a handful of amazing junior racers and we need to be nurturing and inspiring more to get involved and show parents that there is this amazing sport their children can be involved in.

Photo by Sarah Thornely /  supjunkie.uk

From an athlete’s perspective, what makes this event stand out compared to other races on the international calendar, and what aspects make it especially attractive for international paddlers to come and compete?

From an athlete’s perspective, every event on the international calendar has its own character and personality, and that’s part of what makes the sport so exciting. No two races are ever the same, different locations, conditions, and communities all bring something unique, and that variety is something we all really value. There is something quite exciting about the start line of a race you have never been to before.

What makes this one attractive is that it really delivers on something a lot of athletes are asking for more of, more ocean racing. Being part of the ICF World Cup already means you’re racing at a high level, but having it set in a place like Torbay, on the ocean is pretty special, you get to see some amazing coastline, the scenery is quite breath taking and for spectators they have the best seats in the house.

Why is the fun and enjoyment aspect of the sport so important as a key driver for participation and how does it help attract and retain both elite and aspiring paddlers at international events?

I think fun and enjoyment are actually at the heart of why most of us got into the sport in the first place, and they’re just as important at the top level as they are for people starting out.

Even in elite racing under the ICF, where the competition is intense and everyone is pushing hard, if you strip away the enjoyment it stops being something people want to commit to long term. The best events are the ones where you feel challenged, but also genuinely enjoy the experience, whether that’s the racing itself, the location, or the atmosphere around it.

That balance is really powerful for participation. For aspiring paddlers, to see top athletes actually enjoying themselves makes the sport feel more accessible, it shows that it’s not just serious and high pressure, it’s also fun, social, and something you can grow into.
And for elite athletes, it’s just as important for longevity, when events are well organised, in great locations like Torbay, and have a positive atmosphere, it keeps people motivated to keep travelling, racing, and improving.

Photo by Brendon Prince

What message does hosting a global SUP event send to the international paddling community about the UK as a destination for the sport?

I hope the message is loud and clear, come to the UK to race. We have a warm and welcoming sup community, who are always willing to help with the board logistics. We also have some truly amazing races and race organisers, from GB SUP our national series, to some amazing longer distance events like Head of the Dart, Race to the Castle or multi-race events like SUP the Creek, we even have Round Hayling where you can paddle around a whole island and then there are some of the ultra races like the Paddle Skedaddle, and the Great Glen where you can paddle across Scotland we really have something for everyone…so what are you waiting for?

Photo by Brendon Prince

To find out more about the ICF World CUP and SUPER Festival and REGISTER FOR THE EVENT visit superfestival.paddleuk.org.uk

Follow the ICF World CUP and SUPER Festival on Instagram and Facebook