DenizBank Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup

Having served as a historic hub for maritime activity, industry, and life shaped by the water for centuries, the Golden Horn is transforming today through the DenizBank Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup into a new global stage for the international rowing community in Istanbul.

Held for the first time on September 6–7, 2025, the Rowing Cup brought together 54 teams and international rowing clubs on the same course along the Golden Horn. Alongside clubs from the Netherlands, Spain, and Egypt, teams representing leading Turkish corporations competed, while approximately 7,000 spectators lined the shores each day. Emphasizing the spectator experience as much as the athletic contest from its very first edition, the event expanded beyond the boundaries of a conventional sports competition through its Riviera Chic aesthetic and all-day social program.

The second edition, held over three days from September 11–13, 2026, made a substantial leap in both athletic caliber and international scale. 105 teams from Turkey and around the world competed on the 3,500-meter coastal course established along the Golden Horn across the Open Race, Club Race, Corporate Race, and University Challenge categories. Boasting a total prize pool of $250,000, the regatta united professional athletes, clubs, corporate squads, and university teams under a single banner. Olympic and World Champions on the Golden Horn

In its second year, the Rowing Cup brought some of the world's most accomplished rowers to Istanbul. Paris 2024 Olympic champions Karolien Florijn, Finn Florijn, and Lauren Henry joined forces in the same boat representing the Turkish Delight crew in the Open Race. Finn Florijn and Lauren Henry arrived at the Golden Horn straight from their world championship victories at the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam; international crews raced side-by-side on the same course against the German and Ukrainian national teams.

With Turkish Delight claiming victory in the Open Race, the weekend also saw RV Willem 3 take top honors in the Club Race, Turkcell Rowing Team B win the Corporate Race, and Koç University triumph in the inaugural University Challenge. In just its second year, the Rowing Cup established a multilayered racing format uniting world and Olympic champions with national teams, clubs, universities, and corporate crews over a single weekend.

A New Regatta Tradition on the Golden Horn

The mission of the DenizBank Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup extends beyond simply organizing an annual regatta; it aspires to establish an enduring September tradition woven into Istanbul’s international sports and cultural calendar.

Fettah Tamince, Chairman of the Board of Tersane Istanbul, defines the long-term vision through landmark sporting events such as Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, and the Henley Royal Regatta—gatherings that have become intertwined with the culture and social fabric of their host cities over time. The goal is not to replicate these formats, but rather to cultivate an authentic spectator, community, and lifestyle culture centered around the sport.

The Golden Horn’s unique urban setting sits at the very heart of this experience. As athletes compete on the water, spectators follow the action directly from the waterfront promenade; restaurants, hotels, open-air venues, and an evolving day-to-night schedule integrate all of Tersane Istanbul into the regatta weekend.

Riviera Chic

Since the inaugural edition, Riviera Chic has served as a defining pillar of the Rowing Cup’s visual identity and spectator experience. Merging classic regatta aesthetics with the effortless sophistication of the Mediterranean coast, this design ethos brings a signature presence to the Golden Horn with linens, lightweight tailoring, polo collars, flowing dresses, woven straw textures, and maritime accents. Dominated by palettes of white, ecru, navy, and soft blues, Riviera Chic is not merely a dress code, but a visual language that defines how race day is experienced. The official ticketing communications for the 2025 edition designated Riviera Chic as the event's formal sartorial theme.

In this regard, spectating at the DenizBank Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup is as integral to the experience as the competition itself. Beginning along the waterfront in the morning, the day flows naturally through athletics, fine dining, socializing, and live music.

From Race Day to Evening

The rhythm of the Rowing Cup evolves as the day unfolds. While athletic competition commands the Golden Horn during the morning and afternoon, Tersane Istanbul’s coastal lifestyle carries on after the races with curated music and gastronomy.

The inaugural edition concluded with a performance by Fazıl Say & the Haliç Orchestra. In 2026, the evening program featured David Şaboy, Bergüzar Korel’s “Hatırladıkça” performance, and Pink Martini All Stars. The regatta thus expanded beyond the water into a comprehensive gathering where competitors, spectators, and the city converged across the weekend.

With each new edition, the DenizBank Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup elevates its athletic standard and expands its global footprint while honoring its core ethos: an Istanbul regatta tradition raced on the waters of the Golden Horn, celebrated along the shore, and marked on the calendar for a return every September.