Sailing and dragon boat take centre stage at Marina Port Valencia

Marina Port Valencia was one of more than forty venues taking part in the Gay Games 2026, the world’s largest sporting and cultural event dedicated to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion through sport.

The twelfth edition brought together more than 10,000 athletes representing over 80 nationalities, turning Valencia into an international meeting point where water sports served as a vehicle for celebrating cultural diversity and a wide range of sporting disciplines. The strong international participation reinforced the global nature of Games that are open to everyone, regardless of age, identity, sexual orientation or sporting ability.

During the event, Marina Port Valencia hosted the Sailing and Dragon Boat competitions, two disciplines held in an exceptional setting for athletes arriving from countries around the world to compete.

Hosting these events provided another opportunity to showcase Marina Port Valencia’s potential as a strategic venue for international nautical competitions. Its location, infrastructure and connection to the city make it a unique destination for events that combine sport, innovation and international visibility.

Beyond the competition itself, the Gay Games once again represented a celebration of diversity, respect and open participation. Since their creation more than four decades ago, the event has brought together thousands of athletes from around the world under one shared principle: that everyone should be able to compete in and enjoy sport in an inclusive environment.

Among the teams taking part in the sailing events at Marina Port Valencia was SomVela, an initiative developed in collaboration with the Sailing Federation of the Valencian Community as part of a joint commitment to promoting water sports in the city. The project’s participation in the Gay Games 2026 reflects Marina Port Valencia’s commitment to supporting sporting initiatives that promote values such as inclusion, diversity and equality in sport.

In this context, Marina Port Valencia contributed to the success of an international event that positioned Valencia as a benchmark for inclusive sport and strengthened its connection with the sea as a place for meeting, coexistence and sporting activity.

The Sailing and Dragon Boat competitions add to the extensive calendar of events hosted each year by Marina Port Valencia, consolidating its role as one of the Mediterranean’s leading venues for water sports and major events linked to the sea.

On the occasion of the Gay Games 2026, Marina Port Valencia once again opened its doors to local residents and visitors from around the world for a series of days in which sport went beyond competition and became, once more, a tool for integration and cultural exchange.