BRADENTON, Fla.— Manatee County’s largest and FREE civic event—the Bradenton Area River Regatta presented by LECOM—will be a lot bigger and faster in 2026 when high-powered Formula One powerboats invade the Manatee River for this year’s 11th annual event, Friday evening and all day Saturday, Feb. 20-21.
The supercharged Formula 1 boats replace the smaller Formula 2 watercrafts as the marquee racing event for Regatta. Seebold Sports, one of the dominant circuits in outboard powerboat racing, brings its high-speed Formula 1 team to compete in the inaugural Florida Formula 1 Championships and navigate the tight turns and waves of the Manatee River for its first race in the Bradenton/Palmetto area. Two other powerboat classes will also compete at the event—Formula Lights and Tri-Hulls (the latter also appearing for the first time)—to provide the most dramatic racing experience ever for spectators at the festival.
Continuing its two-day format, the 2026 all-FREE Regatta kicks off Friday, Feb. 20, with Friday Night Flash—a spectacular drone light show culminating in a dazzling fireworks extravaganza. Multiple bands also will provide musical entertainment from 5-9 p.m. at Bradenton’s Rossi Park Pavilion Stage, including up-and-coming singer/songwriter Bella Garland, who comes directly from Nashville’s Belmont University, followed by the rhythmic, high-energy dance tunes of national ABBA tribute band ABBA Nova—and national Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Sweet Fleet.
Highlighted by the Regatta’s marque powerboat racing, Saturday’s activities begin at 10 a.m. and feature a variety of family-fun entertainment and chart-topping musical acts all day on both sides of the river. Other events include electrifying aerobatics on water, world-class stunt dogs along the Bradenton Riverwalk, the PUBLIX Family Fun Zone in Bradenton and United States Army and U.S. National Guard Family Fun Zone in Palmetto.
Festivities conclude with a FREE racing awards celebration, beginning at 5 p.m. at the new Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, where the winning drivers from the Formula 1 races will be recognized, followed by a concert featuring Florida’s only national Beach Boys tribute band, Beach Buoys.
The LECOM 5k Run/Walk leads Saturday’s festivities, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Pier 22 Restaurant. Details and registration information can be found at www.raceroster.com/events/2026/110241/lecom-5k-run-the-green-bridge. The DeSoto Little Anglers Fishing Tourney kicks off activities in Palmetto at the Riverside Boat Ramp at 8:30 a.m.
“We are proud to announce with our partners—the City of Bradenton and Manatee County—the return of the Bradenton Area River Regatta for the 11th year,” said Palmetto Mayor Dan West. “All are welcome to two days of free, family-fun events.”
“The City of Bradenton is extremely excited to have Regatta return for another fantastic two-day event, and it is all free,” said Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown.
“The River Regatta is an annual event that not only creates awareness of our urban core and its unique characteristics but also helps stimulate additional revenues for the small businesses in the downtown areas of Palmetto and Bradenton,” said Elliot Falcone, executive director of The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Full details, schedule and additional information are available at bradentonarearegatta.com. Follow all the fun and activities on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RiverwalkRegatta.
