Louis Vuitton Cup vs. America's Cup: Which is better? [2026]

The America's Cup is the oldest and most prestigious trophy in international sport, representing the absolute pinnacle of sailing. The Louis Vuitton Cup is the highly competitive Challenger Selection Series, a fierce tournament that determines which single team earns the right to face the defending champion in the main event. While they are intrinsically linked, one is the historic grand final, while the other is the glamorous, high-stakes tournament to get there.

Here’s a detailed look at both events to help you understand their unique roles in the world of elite sailing.

About the Louis Vuitton Cup

The Louis Vuitton Cup is the renowned challenger series - established in 1983 - and is considered a world-class regatta in its own right. Sponsored by the iconic French luxury house, it blends the intensity of cutting-edge yacht racing with an atmosphere of elegance and exclusivity. Multiple challenger teams from around the world compete in a challenging series of races, and only the sole survivor wins the Louis Vuitton Cup and the coveted opportunity to progress to the America's Cup Match.

• What it is: The Challenger Selection Series for the America's Cup, a preliminary tournament where multiple teams compete to become the single challenger for the final match.
• Key features: Strong luxury brand association with Louis Vuitton, glamorous and exclusive onshore events, a multi-team round-robin and knockout format that builds drama.
• Sponsorship & Investment: Backed heavily by Louis Vuitton, attracting a profile of sponsors who value luxury, style, and high-performance sport. Team participation is still incredibly expensive.
• Pros: Features more teams and more racing action. The partnership with Louis Vuitton creates a unique, hyper-luxe atmosphere. The "do or die" tournament format is thrilling to watch.
• Cons: Lacks the singular historical weight of the main event. It is a precursor, not the final championship. The ultimate prize is still an America's Cup victory.

This event is perfect for spectators who love the excitement of a tournament format and appreciate the intersection of high fashion, luxury, and elite sporting competition.

Learn more: www.americascup.com

About the America's Cup

Dating back to 1851, the America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport and the most difficult to win. It is not an event you simply enter, the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup must challenge the current defender in a one-on-one match race. Steeped in tradition, the Cup is a test of technology, skill, and national pride. Winning this trophy, often referred to as the "Auld Mug," makes a team legendary in the sailing world.

• What it is: The final championship match for the oldest trophy in international sport, contested between the defending yacht club and the single winner of the challenger series.
• Key features: Unmatched historical significance. Pushes the boundaries of yacht design and marine technology with custom-built boats like the foiling AC75 monohulls. A head-to-head match race format.
• Sponsorship & Investment: The financial stakes are enormous, with team budgets sometimes exceeding $100 million. It attracts major sponsors like Rolex and Prada and the support of entire nations.
• Pros: The highest prestige in sailing. Showcases the two best teams in the world going head-to-head. Represents the absolute pinnacle of technological innovation in the sport. Rich with over 170 years of history.
• Cons: Features only two teams, resulting in fewer overall races than the challenger series. The complexity of the technology can be difficult for casual fans to grasp fully.

The America's Cup is for the sports purist who wants to see history being made as the best of the best compete for the ultimate prize in yachting.

Learn more: www.americascup.com

Louis Vuitton Cup vs. America's Cup Comparison

Role & Format

The clearest difference between the two events is their function and format. The Louis Vuitton Cup is a tournament designed to find the best challenger. It features multiple teams competing in a series of round robins and knockout stages, adding suspense as the field is narrowed over several weeks of racing. There are many more races, showcasing a variety of matchups.

The America's Cup is the final. It’s a pure, one-on-one "match race" where the winner of the challenger series goes up against the current defender. This format boils the entire multi-year campaign down to a single dramatic duel between the two fastest boats and skilled crews on the planet.

Prestige & Historical Significance

While the Louis Vuitton Cup is highly prestigious and a major trophy to win, the America's Cup stands alone in terms of historical weight. At over 170 years old, it predates the modern Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. Winning it etches a team's name into sporting history forever. The Louis Vuitton Cup's prestige, since its start in 1983, is derived from its role as the official pathway to competing for this ultimate prize.

Audience & Atmosphere

Both events attract a global, high-net-worth audience, but there's a subtle difference in atmosphere. The Louis Vuitton Cup, with its namesake sponsor, leans heavily into the world of luxury goods, fashion, and an exclusive lifestyle experience. Onshore events are often glamorous, sophisticated affairs emphasizing the brand's identity.

The America's Cup main event has a broader, more sports-focused feel. While still incredibly glamorous and frequented by VIPs, the primary focus is squarely on the competition's historic gravitas, technological spectacle, and national pride at stake.

Yacht Technology & Innovation

The same advanced class of yachts - currently the incredible AC75 foiling monohulls - are used in both the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Finals. These boats are masterpieces of marine engineering that can reach speeds of over 50 knots (nearly 60 mph). The challenger series is often the first public battleground where these futuristic designs are tested against each other under intense pressure. The America's Cup Match, however, is the ultimate showcase, featuring the two most refined and optimized boats after months of secret development and fine-tuning.

Which One Should You Choose?

While intimately connected, these two events offer different experiences for fans and sponsors.

Choose the Louis Vuitton Cup if:

• You enjoy the sustained excitement of a multi-team tournament with numerous races and matchups.
• You appreciate the glamour and branding of a premier luxury house deeply integrated into a sporting event.
• You're fascinated by the process of elimination and seeing which top-tier challenger rises to the top.
• You want to witness some of the world's best sailing teams racing against each other in a round-robin format.

Choose the America's Cup if:

• You want to watch the definitive final match - the climax of years of effort and innovation.
• The unmatched history and prestige of sport's oldest international trophy appeals to you.
• You enjoy the purity and high stakes of a head-to-head competition between the two best teams in the world.
• You are captivated by seeing the absolute apex of sailing technology put to the ultimate test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main difference between the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup?

The Louis Vuitton Cup is the Challenger Selection Series, a preliminary tournament to find the best challenger from a pool of international teams. The America's Cup is the final match race between the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup and the defending champion.

Can a team win both events in the same year?

Yes, and it is the only way a challenger can win the America's Cup. A challenging team must first win the Louis Vuitton Cup to earn the right to race against the defender for the America's Cup trophy.

Which event is older?

The America's Cup is significantly older, founded in 1851. The Louis Vuitton Cup was established much later, in 1983, to bring structure and prestige to the challenger selection process.

Are the same boats used in both events?

Yes, all teams participating in both the challenger series and the final match race use the same class of boat, which for the current and upcoming editions is the technologically advanced AC75 foiling monohull.

Why is Louis Vuitton involved in sailing?

The Louis Vuitton brand heritage is deeply rooted in travel, adventure, and elegance. Sponsoring an elite, international sailing event aligns perfectly with this identity, connecting the brand to a world of innovation, luxury, and high performance.

Which event is more prestigious?

The America's Cup is the most prestigious prize in sailing. The Louis Vuitton Cup is hugely prestigious in its own right, as it is the trophy awarded for triumphing over a field of the world's best challengers and represents the "ticket" to the grand final.

How much does it cost an America's Cup team?

Running a competitive America's Cup campaign is incredibly expensive, requiring cutting-edge research, design, construction, and operations. Budgets for top teams frequently exceed $100 million.

When is the next Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup?

The 37th Louis Vuitton Cup will begin in August 2024, followed by the America's Cup Match in October 2024, with both events taking place in Barcelona, Spain.