Get ready, get excited, get involved!
The Tall Ships Races is Europe's largest free family event and we encourage everyone to get involved to help make it a huge success. Here are just some of the ways you can get involved:
The Tall Ships Races 2025 will take the majestic fleet through the English channel and North Sea to Le Havre, Dunkirk, Aberdeen, Kristiansand and Esbjerg.
We are excited to welcome the races back to Aberdeen from 19 to 22 July 2025. Hundreds of thousands of people and Tall Ships from across the globe will descend on the city for four days of celebrations, sharing culture, and international friendships.
Keep up to date with the latest announcements and news for The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025.
The Tall Ships Races are organised annually by Sail Training International. Ships from around the world gather to participate in competitive races, and to share and enjoy the ensuing shoreside festivities and celebrations. These events are youth-focused and bring a huge spectacle to the ports they call at.
Aberdeen previously hosted The Tall Ships Races in 1991 and 1997.
The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 will be the biggest event in Scotland next year, and is expected to attract 400,000 visits from 19 to 22 July 2025
Around 50 Tall Ships from across the globe with thousands of international crew will descend on the city for the four day festival, which is Europe’s largest free family event.
Quaysides at Port of Aberdeen’s North Harbour and the North end of Union Street will be transformed into a world-class events venue. There will be public access onto ships, parades, awards, fireworks, live music and much more.
More information on the events programme and site will be communicated in the coming months.
Sign up to the Tall Ships Aberdeen mailing list for more information.
There will be a packed programme of free activities over four days across the city that everyone can access.
More information on the event programme, including any ticketed events, will be communicated in the coming months.
Visit What’s on to see the initial event programme.
Sailing dates for Dunkirk to Aberdeen
Sailing dates for Aberdeen to Kristiansand
No problem – everybody can become an Aberdeen sail trainee!
The experienced crew on board the ships will teach you everything you need to know about life on board: from setting sails to navigating, climbing the masts to daily duties on board, like cleaning the deck or assisting the cook in the galley.
If you do have some sailing experience, you can help the other trainees or learn new things like navigating or tying knots.
A place on the Tall Ships Race as a Sail Trainee costs up to £2,000, which covers all transport, meals, equipment and accommodation.
You can apply for help to pay for your place with our funding programme, or you can choose to fund your own costs. Final costs will be confirmed in due course.
Taking up this once-in-a-lifetime experience should be accessible to everyone, as well as fairly distributing the set amount of funding we have.
Priority for funded places will be given to those who face the biggest financial barriers, and this is assessed during the application process. Which is why it’s important you answer the questions as honestly as possible – you will have to provide proof for some of the answers later on!
If you choose to self-fund, this can include doing your own fundraising and we can help with ideas and tips for this. And if you apply for funding and aren’t successful, this may be another option to make sure you don’t miss that boat if you’re determined to take part.
There may also be the option of getting some of your place funded. It all depends on the number of applicants and their individual situations – but we’ll keep you right.
No, the age to join the Tall Ships Races is a minimum of 15 years at the start of the journey and you cannot be older than 25 at the start of the Race.
Sail trainees are between 15 and 25 years old.
Applicants must be born between 11 July 1999 and 10 July 2010 to be no younger than 15 years old and no older than 25 years old on the date of sail (10 July 2025).
For a funded place, you must live within an AB postcode.
For a self-funded place, you must live in Scotland.
Before you sail, you need to have a valid passport.
Your travel document should be valid for at least three months after the planned return date and should be issued less than 10 years before your departure date.
There will be a basic kit list to help you pack for your journey with tips for clothing and other things to bring.
For some vessels you need to bring your own sleeping bag and towels. Support for getting your basic kit will be available through the trainee funding application.
The language on board most ships is English (and sometimes a mixture of all nationalities present).
The crew speaks English and most teaching and instructions are in English. If you’re not a native English speaker, we’ll just explain it again in a different way or we will look within the group for somebody to translate.
There is no wi-fi on board.
If you participate in the Tall Ships Races, you can use the crew centre in ports, which has wi-fi and computers available for the trainees.
There is no mobile phone reception once you’re further than 20 nautical miles from the shore. Enjoy your digital detox!
In case of emergency, the Ships are equipped with a satellite phone so people at home will be able to reach the ship via the organisation in Aberdeen.
People at home can also follow the Tall Ships Races and the ship you are sailing on via a special Yellow-brick app which info will be provided two weeks in advance of the voyage with the last booking information.
If you are selected as an Aberdeen Trainee, you will be able to indicate three ships, in order of preference.
You will also be able to name one other trainee with whom you’d like to sail.
We will do our best to make sure you are on your first choice of vessel, although it might not always be possible, and could be more difficult if you want to sail together with a friend.
When placing you on a ship we will also take into account things like medical and personal needs, as well as availability of special diets. We will do our best to make sure you have an amazing experience!
Sponsorship will help us to stage the best event possible in Aberdeen and support the young sail trainees from the city to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
There are a wide range of opportunities available for organisations of all sizes and budgets, with benefits such as branding and media coverage to exclusive onboard parties, VIP access, and volunteering opportunities.
This is a unique event for businesses to align their brand with diverse groups across the city including volunteers, youth organisations, schools, the third sector and more.
Visit Become a sponsor to find out more.
Yes, many of the Tall Ships will be open for public access during their time in Aberdeen.
The Tall Ships races offer life changing experiences for young people, helping them grow in confidence, rise to challenges, overcome fears, make international friendships, and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime.
We will be recruiting 100 young people, aged 15-25 and living in an AB post code, to sail aboard a Tall Ship in 2025, from Dunkirk to Aberdeen or Aberdeen to Kristiansand.
We’re recruiting people from all backgrounds and experiences, with funding and support available, and the application process will open later in 2024.
Visit Become a sail trainee to find out more.
Many of the Tall Ships will be happy to open their decks for private functions which can be catered aboard, or have refreshments brought aboard depending on ship facilities.
Visit Tall Ship hospitality to find out more.
Our inclusive, diverse, and accessible volunteer programme will have a role to suit everyone, from Liaison Officers to Media Assistants, Visitor Experience to Transport Coordinators and much more!
The application process will open later in 2024.
Visit Become a volunteer to find out more.
With four-days of culture and entertainment taking place around the Tall Ships event there will be loads of opportunities to get involved.
Visit Cultural programme to find out more.
With over 400,000 visitors expected, there are exciting commercial opportunities for local businesses, from pop-up retail to food sales and much more!
Visit Commercial trading to find out more.
