The third edition of the Palma Trophy has a date: 19 September 2026.

For two years, you asked. We listened. And now it’s official — canoe is joining the programme.

From the beginning, the Paddle Games was built to grow. Not according to a plan drawn up in a meeting room, but in response to the athletes, the crowd, and everything the sport deserves to be. The Elite C1 category is the next step in that direction — and it has been a long time coming.

The C1 format will have its own identity, distinct from the turning course that defines the kayak competition. Athletes will race in a straight line, in an elimination format where the clock, not just the opposition, becomes part of the pressure. Within a restricted start window, the last athlete across the line is out. The field narrows, round by round, until four remain — and those four decide everything in the final. Simple, brutal, and exactly the kind of racing that belongs in front of a crowd. Full details to follow.

We are also experimenting with colour-changing buoys to signal the start sequence — clearer for the athletes, more vivid for anyone watching from the bank. It is still experimental. But that is how we work: test, learn, and keep pushing until the sport looks as good as it feels to race.

The Real Club Náutico de Palma return as organisers, as they have from the very first edition. Their belief in this format — and their willingness to keep building it — is what makes the event possible. Nelo Kayaks continue as principal sponsor, and the Palma City Council as institutional partner. The Royal Spanish Canoe Federation and the Balearic Canoe Federation will also support the event one more time.

The goal has never changed: bring the best paddlers in the world to one of the most extraordinary settings in the sport, and make every second worth watching.

19 September. Palma. Canoes included.

Beyond the Lane.