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A free village at the foot of the ramparts of Saint-Malo
From October 20 to November 1, 2026, Saint-Malo will host the starting village for the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe.
Spanning 70,000 m² around the Vauban and Duguay-Trouin basins, the village brings together the various classes competing in the solo transatlantic race: Ultim, IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, Class40, Vintage Mono, and Vintage Multi.
Admission is free. Visitors can stroll along the docks to look at the boats, explore the booths, and enjoy the activities organized before the departure for Pointe-à-Pitre.
For offshore racing enthusiasts, these events offer, above all, the chance to see sailboats that are rarely gathered together in the same port. From Class40s to Ultim trimarans, the differences in size, design, and equipment highlight the diversity of the projects competing in this transatlantic race.
What are the hours for the Route du Rhum 2026 village?
The village officially opens on Tuesday, October 20, at noon. The exhibition areas will be open until 8:00 p.m. on this first day.
From October 21 to 29, the event is scheduled to open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., except on Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, when exhibitors will welcome visitors until 10 p.m.
On Friday, the 30th, the village will be closed due to a storm. On Saturday, October 31, the village will also be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Finally, on Sunday, November 1?the opening day?the exhibitor areas will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Evening entertainment and dining options will allow guests to extend their evenings until 1 a.m. during the period leading up to departure.
What time can I watch the boats go through the locks on October 20?
Passing through the Naye lock is one of the village?s most interesting boating experiences. Boats must navigate at low speed in a confined space before reaching their berths in the basins.
On Tuesday, October 20, the bleachers set up near the lock will open to the public at 11:45 a.m.
The first boat is scheduled to arrive at 12:45 p.m. Subsequent arrivals are scheduled for 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. The last boat is expected to have left the lock around 5:30 p.m.
These schedules are tentative and may change depending on weather conditions and nautical constraints.
Vehicular traffic at the Naye lock will be suspended from 11:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20. Pedestrians will be able to cross between certain boat passages, depending on when the bridge is open and in accordance with safety guidelines.
However, the special road closure that was scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, to accommodate the parade will not take place, since the parade has been canceled.
Where can you see the Route du Rhum boats in Saint-Malo?
The competitors will be divided between the port's two main basins.
The Vauban basin will host the Ultim, Class40, and Vintage Multi classes, among others. The IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, and Vintage Mono classes will be based in the Duguay-Trouin basin.
This breakdown allows you to discover the different categories participating in the race as you walk along the docks.
The Ultim class stands out for its size and the design typical of large ocean-going trimarans. The IMOCAs, 60-foot monohulls, feature different configurations depending on their generation, including boats equipped with foils. The Ocean Fifties, 50-foot trimarans, and the Class40s, 40-foot monohulls, round out this diversity.
The boats will be visible from the docks for the duration of the festival, until they set out to sea.
To pinpoint the exact location of each competitor, an interactive map is available on the official Route du Rhum website.
What activities are planned for the festival?
In addition to the boats? arrivals, the village will host concerts, sporting events, skipper presentations, and events dedicated to offshore racing.
On Wednesday, October 21, despite the cancellation of the IMOCA parade, the official opening of the village is still scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on the 360° stage.
On Saturday, October 24, an event titled ?Red Bull on the Mast? is scheduled for 3 p.m.
On Sunday, October 25, the skippers' introduction is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
The main stage on the Esplanade Saint-Vincent will also host daily events, including the Route du Rhum news program, as well as concerts and evening events.
Visitors will also be able to explore the areas dedicated to Guadeloupe, the race?s destination, as well as the various exhibitors set up around the pools.
How do I get to the Route du Rhum village?
Given the expected crowds in Saint-Malo, public transportation is the best way to get to the village.
The SNCF train station is about a ten-minute walk from the harbors. Train service connects Saint-Malo to Rennes and Paris, among other destinations.
For visitors arriving by car, there are two main park-and-ride facilities: Paul-Féval, near the racetrack, and Croix-Désilles, in the La Houssaye area.
The parking package, which includes a round-trip shuttle, is priced at 10 %C2euros per car per day. The shuttles allow visitors to reach the outskirts of the village without driving through the busiest areas.
The MAT bus network is also adjusting its services during the event.
Cyclists will have several parking areas available near the entrances, including on the Esplanade Saint-Vincent, near the lock, at Place Duguesclin, and on Avenue Louis Martin.
Traffic and Parking: Restrictions Around the Port
From October 20 to November 1, special traffic measures will be in effect in Saint-Malo.
Vehicular access to Intra-Muros and the Sillon area will require the presentation of a pass. These restrictions apply in particular to residents, professionals, and individuals authorized to enter the restricted areas.
Visitors without a pass must use the designated parking lots and the provided transportation to get to the village.
Accessibility measures are also in place for people with disabilities, including reserved parking spaces on Rue de la Distillerie and Place Duguesclin, as well as a free, accessible shuttle service upon presentation of the required documentation.
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it is recommended that you check the traffic map published by the City of Saint-Malo before hitting the road.
When will the boats leave Saint-Malo for the start?
After their time in the pools, the competitors will gradually head out to sea.
The first outings are scheduled to begin on Friday, October 30. The outings will continue throughout the weekend, depending on the classes and organizational constraints.
These departures from the harbors will offer a final opportunity to watch the boats maneuver before the transatlantic race.
The start of the 2026 Route du Rhum is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, at 1:02 p.m., off the coast of Saint-Malo, heading toward Pointe-à-Pitre.
A live broadcast will also allow viewers to follow the start of the race from the village.
For visitors, the choice of date therefore depends on their goal: to witness the spectacular arrivals at the locks, to leisurely explore the boats at the docks, or to watch the final maneuvers before departure. With the change in the IMOCA schedule, Tuesday, October 20, becomes a particularly important day for those who wish to watch the competitors enter the harbor.
