2026 St. Pete Powerboat Grand Prix: IHRA's Offshore Season Opener

The 6th Annual St. Pete Grand Prix kicks off the 2026 IHRA Offshore Racing Series National Championship. Presented by Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, powered by Monster Energy.

St. Petersburg Florida waterfront with powerboats racing near downtown skyline

Downtown St. Pete waterfront - the stage for IHRA's season opener

When & Where

March 27-29, 2026 - Downtown St. Petersburg, FL
Between the St. Pete Pier and Albert Whitted Airport
Friday, March 27 - Pit Party & Fan Fest (FREE, open to public)
Saturday & Sunday, March 28-29 - Full race days, 10+ classes
Admission is FREE - bring a lawn chair and find a spot on the seawall
VIP at Pier Teaki starting at $300

What to Expect

~50 powerboats across 10+ classes
Class One catamarans topping 160 mph
Pro Watercrafts hitting 80 mph
64 registered drivers including international competitors from Belgium, France, and Japan

Spectators watching powerboat racing action from the shoreline

60,000+ spectators expected along the waterfront

The Numbers

60,000+ expected spectators
$13 million estimated economic impact for St. Petersburg
$2 million total series purse with $650K in tow money
Coverage on Speed Sport 1 & 2 plus YouTube Live

IHRA's First Big Test

This is the first race under the newly unified IHRA Offshore Racing banner. With P1 and OPA alignments in place, IHRA is going big: national broadcast, festival atmosphere, and a showcase for the future of the sport.