PARIS — Louis Vuitton is renewing its commitment as title partner of the next America’s Cup, as the elite sailing race introduces a host of changes aimed at growing the sport’s global audience.
The 38th edition of the event, often described as the Formula 1 of the sea, is scheduled to take place in Naples between May and July 2027, marking its first time in Italy.
In one of the biggest changes in the history of the 175-year-old competition, the America’s Cup has introduced a shared governance and commercial structure known as the America’s Cup Partnership, under which management of the event is shared by all participants, replacing the historic defender-centric model.
The race will transition to a more stable biennial schedule and for the first time, each team may now field two boats: one helmed by their core America’s Cup squad, and another showcasing the rising stars of their youth and women’s teams.
Five teams — Emirates Team New Zealand, GB1, Luna Rossa, Tudor Team Alinghi and K-Challenge — are currently entered to compete across several phases of preliminary regattas scheduled for this year.
Vuitton’s partnership with the America’s Cup dates back to 1983, when the French luxury house revolutionized the competition by introducing challenger elimination rounds, known as the Louis Vuitton Cup, which opened the race up to a larger number of teams.
“Louis Vuitton is synonymous with the modern America’s Cup,” said professional sailor Grant Dalton, CEO of the America’s Cup event and CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, which won the race for the third time in a row in Barcelona in 2024.
The trophy trunk for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Naples 2027.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
“We are delighted to support the America’s Cup in its new transformation, ushering in an even more modern and inclusive era,” said Pietro Beccari, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, which belongs to luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
“Together, we experienced the cup’s first major transformation in 1983 with the creation of the Louis Vuitton Cup, and today we are honored to be present for this new historic edition,” he added.
The official logo for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Naples 2027 will be a blue, white and red graphic design by Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the grandson of founder Louis Vuitton, featuring the “V” for Vuitton in addition to the silhouette of the America’s Cup trophy, affectionately known as the Auld Mug.
The “V” is also an emblem of victory, echoing the house’s signature tagline: “Victory Travels in Louis Vuitton.”
The brand is commissioning the Louis Vuitton Cup trophy, designed by silversmith Thomas Lyte, and crafting two trunks for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup.
In recent years, Vuitton has partnered with other major sporting events including the FIFA, Ballon d’Or, Rugby World Cup, the Australian Open and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Pietro Beccari and Bernard Arnault present the Auld Mug to Emirates Team New Zealand at a ceremony in Barcelona.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
