Suzhou, China and Burlington, Vermont are leading candidates for the next SUP World Championships. Other destinations are also bidding. Neither city is being presented here as the confirmed 2027 host.
Suzhou: waterways around a historic city
Suzhou, in Jiangsu Province, is known for its waterways and classical gardens. The city has pursued World Cup hosting alongside discussions about the next World Championships. Paddle Worldwide President Thomas Konietzko visited Suzhou as those discussions continued.
Burlington: a Lake Champlain waterfront
Burlington sits beside Lake Champlain in Vermont, USA. Its bid combines a waterfront close to downtown, a local SUP community and event-delivery experience. The proposed festival atmosphere would welcome athletes, spectators and local residents.
This year's venue is not next year's host
The 2026 Worlds take place in Sabaudia, Italy, on October 14–18. The confirmed entry list totals 934 athletes from 59 nations. These dates belong to this year's event, not the 2027 host-candidate news.
Suzhou and Burlington are candidates. Confirm the final 2027 host and detailed dates after the official allocation announcement.
2027: World Cups become a World Series
The existing SUP World Cups are scheduled to relaunch in 2027 as the Paddle Worldwide Stand Up Paddle World Series. A multi-stop international series and the annual World Championships are separate competitions. The new season brings structural changes as well as host bids.