The Tall Ships Races will be held in Turku every four years from now on – Turku is the Baltic Sea's first anchor port designated by Sail Training International

With the anchor port agreement, Turku will host The Tall Ships Races regularly every four years in the future. Normally, the hosting of the event has to be applied for separately from Sail Training International (STI). According to STI's Anchor Port Scheme, only one anchor port can be named as an anchor port from each country and only 1–3 from each sea area. With the agreement, Turku will become the world's fourth anchor port in addition to Aalborg, Esbjerg and Antwerp.

Mayor of Turku, Minna Arve, sees the anchor port status as a remarkable recognition for Turku's long-term and successful work as the organizer of The Tall Ships Races events.

– As a port city, the sea has always been an inseparable part of Turku, and as the capital of the world's most beautiful archipelago, we also have a special responsibility for the protection of the unique and delicate Archipelago Sea. We are committed to continuing our ambitious work so that future generations can enjoy the beauty and diversity of the sea. As a maritime event, The Tall Ships Races offers an excellent opportunity to highlight this important theme, Arve says.

According to Turku Port Committee chairman Jarkko Virtanen, the certainty of organizing the event every four years enables long-term and more permanent investments in event production. The event with about half a million visitors also brings some significant economic benefits for both the city and local entrepreneurs.

– The regional economic effects of a single Tall Ships Races event are estimated to be around 36–40 million euros. The event interests a wide variety of people year after year. As an open and free-of-charge event The Tall Ships Races is also accessible to everyone regardless of income level, says Virtanen.

The mayor of Turku, Minna Arve, and the CEO of Sail Training International, Alan James, signed the anchor port agreement on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

The Tall Ships Races will be held in Turku this year for the sixth time on July 18–21. The event has been organized previously in 1996, 2003, 2009 and 2017. In addition, in 2011, The Culture Tall Ships Races Regatta was organized in honor of the European Capital of Culture year of Turku. The event planned for 2021 had to be canceled due to the covid pandemic. With the anchor port agreement, The Tall Ships Races will be held in Turku next time in 2028 and in 2032.

Half a million visitors are expected to participate the Turku The Tall Ships Races event this year. The event emphasizes Turku's role as an international event city and supports youth sailing and the protection of the Baltic Sea.

Follow the event!

The event website www.tallshipsturku.fi has compiled comprehensive information about the event area and program, as well as transport connections, parking and arrival in Turku.

The city of Turku will communicate about the event with press releases and on social media. 

• Facebook: Tall Ships Races Turku, Turun kaupunki – Åbo stad – City of Turku
• Instagram: @tallshipsracesturku, @turkukaupunki

The daily visitor numbers will be released in social media in the following day. The total number of visitors and other important event information will be released in the week after the event.

This year, a comprehensive audience survey will also be conducted about the event, which will reveal, among other things, the regional economic effects of the event. The results of the survey will be completed in autumn 2024.