foiling awards 2026
Defi Wind named "Event of the Year" at the Foiling Awards 2026
Two days after the Foiling Awards ceremony in Genova (Italy), the Défi Wind was awarded the prize for “Event of the Year”. This major international distinction recognizes its role in the development of watersports and foiling on a global scale.
Created in 2001 in Gruissan, the Defi Wind is now the world’s largest gathering dedicated to wind-powered watersports. Every year, over 2,000 riders from more than 40 nations gather on the same starting line, which has become legendary in the world of wind sports.
Initially focused on windsurfing, the Wind Challenge has kept pace with developments in the sport, gradually opening up to wingfoil, kitefoil and windfoil. In 2025, almost 1,000 foilers took part in the various Challenges, making the event one of the world’s largest gatherings dedicated to these fast-growing disciplines.
International recognition... and territorial
In addition to the event itself, this award also highlights a region. For more than twenty years, Gruissan has hosted the Defi Wind and established itself as an emblematic venue for watersports, supported by unique natural conditions and a committed local ecosystem.
With several tens of thousands of visitors each year, the Defi Wind is a major outreach lever for the destination, contributing to its international appeal in terms of tourism, business and sport.
This distinction is part of a strong continuity: in 2025, the title of “Event of the Year” was awarded to the Vendée Globe, the absolute reference in ocean racing. A symbolic passing of the baton between two visions of foiling: on the one hand, extreme performance, and on the other, an open, accessible and collective practice carried by the Defi Wind.
“They don’t just sail. They’re redefining what’s possible on the water.”
Through its unique format, the Wind Challenge fully embodies this dynamic, offering a field of expression where every start, every trajectory and every rider participates in the evolution of wind sports and foiling.
Setting course for 2026
Buoyed by this international recognition, the Defi Wind is now coming to Gruissan for its 2026 edition, to be held from May 8 to 17.
The momentum is already there, with over 1,800 participants registered at this stage, confirming the continuing appeal of the event and the enthusiasm of the international community.
True to its DNA, the Defi Wind will continue to bring together professionals and amateurs on the same starting line, while accompanying the evolution of practices and reinforcing its role as a world reference for watersports, in the heart of Gruissan and the Occitanie region.
