Tall Ships Festival

Halifax has a long, proud tradition of welcoming tall ships to its waterfront — one of the world's great natural harbours and home to the iconic Tall Ships Quay. When historic sailing vessels call on Halifax, dockside tours and maritime programming make the waterfront one of the best places in Canada to see these vessels up close.

When Is the Next Tall Ships Festival in Halifax?

As of September 2026, no tall ships festival has been announced for Halifax. The Tall Ships Races 2027 — the major international circuit run by Sail Training International — is scheduled for European ports: Bordeaux, France (July 10), A Coruña, Spain (July 18), and Sines, Portugal (July 31), with additional host ports still being confirmed. None of the announced 2027 stops are in Canada.

Halifax last hosted a full tall ships regatta in 2017, when the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta brought an international fleet to the waterfront for Canada 150. The port's track record — festivals in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2017 — shows Halifax typically joins the circuit when a North American route is organized, roughly once every three to five years. When the next Halifax gathering is confirmed, Discover Halifax and the Halifax Waterfront announce the dates and ship lineups first.

What Happened in 2026

The major North Atlantic tall ship gathering of 2026 was Sail Boston, held July 11–16, where Nova Scotia's own Bluenose II sailed alongside the international fleet. Halifax itself hosted SailGP Halifax on June 20–21, 2026, which brought F50 racing catamarans to the harbour rather than tall ships. Both events have concluded; for tall-ship fans who missed them, the year-round options below are the reliable choice.

Tall Ship Experiences You Can Book Now

• Tall Ship Silva harbour cruises — Sails from the Halifax Waterfront throughout the summer season; tickets are available in-person at waterfront kiosks. A relaxed way to see the harbour under sail.
• Bluenose II — Nova Scotia's iconic schooner sails from Lunenburg and periodically calls on Halifax. The official Bluenose II schedule lists confirmed port visits and harbour cruises.
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic — Historic vessels and exhibits that keep the sailing-ship heritage alive on the waterfront every day.

Plan Your Visit

The Halifax Waterfront is freely accessible year-round, and the Tall Ships Quay sits steps from the boardwalk's shops and restaurants. If seeing tall ships in person is the centrepiece of your trip, time a summer visit around a confirmed Bluenose II port call or a Tall Ship Silva departure, and watch the Discover Halifax events calendar for port announcements. Halifax hosted the fleet in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2017 — the pattern suggests the ships will return; the date just is not set yet.