2026 U.S. National Teams Road Map

The U.S. National Teams are building toward the World Rowing Championships and Beach Sprint Finals later this year, with a full slate of domestic selection events and international racing opportunities ahead. Following a strong winter and early spring, the focus now shifts to selection, speed, and international competition.

The Season Ahead

The pathway to international racing begins in early May with domestic competition and evaluation opportunities. Senior and Para athletes will race at National Selection Regatta, Para Speed Orders, and Lightweight Trials in New Jersey on May 1-3, helping shape early-season lineups and identify developing speed for the first international races of the calendar.

International Racing

The U.S. National Team will face top global competition across the World Rowing Cup series:

World Cup II – June 12–14, Plovdiv, Bulgaria-Senior Team
World Cup III – June 26–28, Lucerne, Switzerland-Senior and Para Team

These regattas provide critical benchmarks against international fields and serve as key preparation opportunities ahead of championship racing.

Trials & Selection Events

The summer selection process will include multiple opportunities for athletes across age groups:

National Selection Regatta, Para Speed Orders and Lightweight Trials- May 1-3, West Windsor, New Jersey
U19 Trials – June 15–16, Sarasota, Florida
Beach Sprint Speed Orders - June 16-17, Sarasota, Florida
U23 and Para Trials & Senior Summer Speed Order– July 3–5, West Windsor, New Jersey
Beach Sprint Trials - August 7-9, New Bedford, Massachusetts

These events will determine crews representing the United States at the upcoming World Championships and help finalize lineups across boat classes.

Championship Racing

U.S. crews will compete on the world stage throughout the summer and fall:

U23 World Championships – July 23–26, Duisburg, Germany
U19 World Championships – August 6–9, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Senior World Championships – August 23–30, Amsterdam, Netherlands
World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – October 18–21, Qingdao, China

Each event represents a key milestone for athletes progressing through the national team pipeline, from junior to senior levels.

Additional Racing

A select group of athletes will compete in the inaugural World Rowing Shanghai Sprints this September. The event brings a new, high-speed racing format to the international rowing calendar, designed as a dynamic showcase for the sport, featuring head-to-head 500-meter sprint racing across six boat classes.

Shanghai Sprints - September 26-27, Shanghai, China

Looking Ahead

With a packed calendar spanning domestic trials, international racing, and world championship events, the coming months will be critical for athlete development and team selection. Each step along the way builds toward peak performance on the world stage.