By Edward Miles
Field Report | Wind & Water Sports
In May 2026, the Formula Kite World Championships 2026 will take place in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, confirming the city’s position as one of Europe’s leading destinations for wind sports and Olympic sailing.
From 9 to 16 May 2026, the world’s elite kitefoil athletes will gather on Portugal’s northern Atlantic coast to compete in the Olympic Formula Kite discipline — a class defined by speed, precision and high-level tactical racing.
Praia do Cabedelo: An International Reference Spot
The championship will be held at Praia do Cabedelo, one of Europe’s most consistent and highly regarded locations for kitesurfing and kitefoiling.
Situated at the mouth of the Lima River and directly exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, Praia do Cabedelo offers a rare and highly valued combination of conditions:
- Reliable thermal winds
- Flat-water sections close to the river
- Atlantic swell for more technical racing
- Wide, open space ideal for race course layouts
These characteristics make Cabedelo an exceptional venue not only for learning and progression, but also for elite-level international competition.
Athletes from Around the World in Viana do Castelo
The Formula Kite World Championships 2026 will welcome athletes from across the globe, representing the leading nations of the international kitefoil circuit.
For one week, Viana do Castelo will become a true global hub for the discipline, bringing together:
- Olympic-level athletes
- National teams and professional coaches
- Specialised international media
- A worldwide community of riders and followers
The level of competition is expected to be extremely high, reflecting the rapid evolution of Formula Kite as an Olympic class.
Tomás and Mafalda Pires Lima: Portugal on the World Stage
Among the Portuguese athletes in focus will be siblings Tomás Pires Lima and Mafalda Pires Lima, representing the new generation of Portuguese kitefoil talent.
Tomás arrives at the 2026 World Championships during a new Olympic qualification phase. Competing at home, in conditions he knows deeply, represents a strategically important step in his Olympic pathway.
Mafalda continues to strengthen Portugal’s presence within the Formula Kite circuit, establishing herself as a progressing and competitive athlete at international level.
Mafalda Pires Lima: Previous Olympic Qualification Experience
An important detail that reinforces Mafalda’s competitive profile is that she has already competed in a previous Olympic qualification cycle.
Having raced at high-level international qualification events, she gained valuable experience managing the tactical intensity, physical demands and psychological pressure of Olympic-level competition.
This previous Olympic campaign positions her not only as an athlete in progression, but as a competitor with proven exposure to the highest standards of the sport.
Her participation in the 2026 World Championships represents continuity, resilience and long-term commitment to Formula Kite.
Viana do Castelo on the Global Kitefoil Map
The selection of Viana do Castelo as host city reinforces its status as:
- A European reference for wind sports
- A destination for high-performance training
- A venue capable of hosting world-class international events
More than simply a competition site, Viana stands out as a complete ecosystem where natural wind conditions, sporting culture and community engagement align seamlessly.
A Defining Sporting Moment for 2026
The Formula Kite World Championships 2026 will be one of the most significant sporting events of the year in Portugal.
With athletes from around the world, an iconic venue such as Praia do Cabedelo, and Portuguese riders competing in the midst of Olympic qualification, the event is set to mark a defining chapter in the evolution of kitefoiling in the country.
