News

Tuesday, August 18: The advanced program for the opening round of the 2026 UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Circuit World Championship, to be held in the Chinese city of Shanghai, has been published. The full event schedule for the return of Aquabike to China for the first race in the country since 2019 has been announced, promising a weekend of fierce racing in the Runabout GP1, Ski GP1, Ski Ladies GP1, and Freestyle categories.

Through the collaboration of Aquabike Promotion, CSUPF ( China WaterSki Underwater& Powerboat Federation)  and Shanghai Baoshan District People’s Government, the Grand Prix of Shanghai, China will take place in the north of the Chinese megacity, in the district of Baoshan. Once the paddock opens, registrations will take place on Thursday, October 1 until 11am local time, with engine testing then allowed in the afternoon.

Racing action begins the following day, Friday, October 2, with free practice sessions between 9am and 10.30am, directly after which qualifying for pole position will follow until 1pm. The first competitive races of the 2026 season then take place from 3.15pm, as all categories race in Moto 1.

Racing continues on Saturday, with Moto 2 starting at 10.30am. The final and decisive races of the Grand Prix of Shanghai take place in the afternoon, with Moto 3 starting at 2pm and finishing at 4.30pm.

With the racing over, the winners of the first Aquabike Grand Prix in China since 2019, and first Grand Prix to take place in Shanghai in a decade, will be crowned in the awarding ceremony from 5pm, which brings a close to the 2026 World Championship’s opening race and much-anticipated return to racing in China.