Marina Port Valencia has this week been proud to be one of the 40-plus venues playing host to the Gay Games 2026, the world’s largest sporting and cultural event celebrating diversity, equality and inclusion through sport.
The twelfth edition brought together more than 10,000 athletes from over 80 countries, turning Valencia into an international meeting point where watersports became a powerful platform for celebrating cultural diversity across a whole host of sporting disciplines. The impressive international turnout reaffirmed the Games’ global appeal, bringing together people of all ages, identities, sexual orientations and sporting abilities.
During the event, Marina Port Valencia hosted the sailing and dragon boat competitions, with athletes from around the world competing at one of the Mediterranean’s premier waterfront sporting venues.
Staging these events provided another opportunity to showcase Marina Port Valencia’s credentials as a premier venue for international watersports competitions. Its prime location, its infrastructure and its connection with the city make it a truly unique space for events that combine sport, innovation and global reach.
Beyond the sporting competition, the Gay Games once again embodied the values of diversity, respect and inclusion. Since its inception more than four decades ago, the event has brought together thousands of athletes from around the world, united by a shared belief that everyone should have the opportunity to compete and enjoy sport in an inclusive environment
Teams racing in the sailing competitions at Marina Port Valencia included SomVela, an initiative launched in partnership with the Valencian Sailing Federation to encourage greater participation in watersports throughout the city. SomVela’s participation in the Gay Games 2026 underlines Marina Port Valencia’s commitment to supporting sporting initiatives that champion inclusion, diversity and equality.
In doing so, Marina Port Valencia played its part in delivering an international event that positioned Valencia as a benchmark for inclusive sport, while reinforcing its connection with the sea as a place for community life, recreation and sports.
The sailing and dragon boat competitions form part of Marina Port Valencia’s extensive annual programme of events, consolidating its role as one of the leading venues for watersports and major Mediterranean events.
During the Gay Games 2026, Marina Port Valencia welcomed the local community and visitors from across the globe to experience an event where sport went beyond competition, fostering inclusion and cultural exchange.
