Monaco Energy Boat Challenge returns for 13th edition with 43 teams from 21 nations

The 13th edition of the annual Monaco Energy Boat Challenge will return to the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and the waters off the coast of the Principality from 8 to 11 July 2026. 

Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW and SBM Offshore, the event stands as an "outdoor laboratory of innovation" for alternative propulsion and fuels in the boating sector, and aims to promote and encourage university-led innovations with support from some of the biggest players in the yachting industry. 

The 2026 edition will see 43 teams from 21 nationalities across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, take part (an increase on last year's figures), with students, universities, technical colleges and industry professionals presenting their solutions and testing prototypes.

Each year, more than 1,000 students and young engineers take part in the Challenge, with the event acting for many as a pivotal step in their career paths. 

A number of the participating teams already benefit from several years of development, with their solutions at an advanced stage of optimisation and maturity. Examples include predictive energy management from HydroVinci in France; high-speed at high efficiency propulsion from Hydros Team in Indonesia; digital twins from Cambridge University Riviera Racing in the UK; and bio-sourced materials from Team Sea Sakthi in India.

“This event is a platform for exchange and knowledge sharing," explained Yacht Club de Monaco’s director and general secretary, Bernard d’Alessandri. "By bringing together hundreds of young engineers, we are reaffirming yet again our commitment to making Monaco a testing ground where students, manufacturers and institutions can work together on sustainable solutions for the boats of tomorrow."

He continued: "The diversity of profiles and cultures is a key asset to stimulate innovation and accelerate the maritime sector’s energy transition that drives our collective ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ approach”.

Participating teams are divided into four categories: AI Class (11 teams), which was introduced in 2025 to drive artificial intelligence for boats; Energy Class (26 teams), a long-time pillar of the event and a testing ground for electric and hybrid technologies; SeaLab Class (6 teams), floating laboratories testing emerging energy sources, introduced to create space for advanced experimentation; and the Open Sea Class, the CE-certified zero-emission industry’s showcase. Registration for the Open Sea Class is open until mid-May.

Off water, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge encourages exchanges between the young participants and professionals in the maritime sector through initiatives including the Corporate Mentoring Programme, Tech Talks and the Job Forum.