Powerboat Racing to Return to Pittsburgh’s Waterfronts

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISITPITTSBURGH

Starting next year, Pittsburgh will have a new Fourth of July tradition.

Formula One Powerboat racing will return to the Steel City’s rivers beginning the July 4 weekend in 2027 with the Pittsburgh Formula One Powerboat National Championship, an event that marks the beginning of a three-year partnership between SportsPITTSBURGH and the International Hot Rod Associational Powerboat Series.

“Pittsburgh has earned a national reputation for hosting world-class sporting events, and this partnership represents the next evolution of that success,” Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, says in a statement. “We’re not simply bringing powerboat racing back to our rivers — we’re creating a signature Fourth of July tradition that showcases one of Pittsburgh’s greatest assets, strengthens our visitor economy and gives travelers another compelling reason to choose Pittsburgh year after year.”

Pittsburgh will welcome IHRA’s premier Formula One powerboats — one of the sport’s fastest and most competitive racing circuits — as drivers battle for the National Championship on the challenging waters of the Allegheny River. Formula Lights and Tri-Hull classes will also compete throughout the weekend, creating an action-packed racing festival unlike anything else in the region, organizers say. 

“This is such a fabulous venue for these high-powered watercrafts, and, with the other two classes, we are looking for some great racing on these tricky waters,” says Tim Seebold, IHRA’s managing director of F1. 

Racing will be the marquee event during the two-day celebration, but fans can also expect a variety of exciting, free and family-friendly entertainment, including fly-boarders, stunt dogs and a dramatic drone light show.

The Pittsburgh Formula One Powerboat National Championship also marks a milestone for SportsPITTSBURGH. While the organization has built a national reputation for attracting premier sporting events that drive visitation and economic impact — namely, the 2026 NFL Draft hosted earlier this year — this will become the first event owned and operated by VisitPITTSBURGH’s sports tourism division. 

Officials say the investment reflects a broader strategy to create signature experiences that leverage the region’s unique assets, grow overnight visitation and generate long-term economic impact throughout Allegheny County. They add that the Pittsburgh Formula One Powerboat National Championship reflects SportsPITTSBURGH’s vision of “Where Sport Forges Impact”; In a press release, officials add: “By attracting and creating world-class sporting events, the organization harnesses the power of sports to drive visitation, fuel economic growth, strengthen communities and showcase Pittsburgh’s greatest competitive advantage — its people, its place and its spirit of partnership.”

(And, of course, it’s three rivers.)

“Major events like this are a win for our city,” Mayor Corey O’Connor says in a statement. “They bring local families and visitors to the riverfronts, create vibrancy Downtown and support our local businesses. Adding the Formula One Powerboat National Championship to Pittsburgh’s Independence Day celebration is an exciting opportunity to create a new tradition on our rivers.”