Emirates Extends Landmark Sponsorship as Team New Zealand Prepares for Naples 2027

(NEWS) DUBAI, UAE, 2026-Jan-21 — /Travel PR News/ — Emirates has confirmed it will continue as naming sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand, extending a partnership that has become one of the longest-running and most recognisable relationships in international sailing. Based on details outlined in official announcement from the airline and the team, the renewed agreement carries through the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup cycle and all preliminary regattas, reinforcing Emirates’ long-term presence at the pinnacle of the sport.

The partnership, which began in 2004, has spanned more than two decades of America’s Cup competition and technological development. Most recently, it coincided with Emirates Team New Zealand’s successful defence of the Auld Mug in Barcelona in 2024, marking the first time any team has secured three consecutive America’s Cup victories. That result now sets the backdrop for the next defence, scheduled to take place in Naples in 2027.

Under the renewed deal, Emirates retains its position as Lead Sponsor, with naming rights to the defending team and designation as Official Airline and Carrier. According to official press materials, the Emirates brand will continue to feature prominently across the team’s AC75 yachts, including the mainsail and hull, as well as on chase boats, tenders, team bases and crew uniforms. The sponsorship also extends across digital platforms, broadcast coverage and live event visibility.

As Defender of the upcoming America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand enters the next cycle with heightened expectations. Based on official updates, the renewal is intended to build on a shared reputation for technical excellence and sustained performance, qualities that both parties emphasise as central to the partnership. The relationship has previously supported advances in foiling technology and yacht design, alongside Emirates’ broader positioning as a global aviation brand.

The sponsorship renewal also aligns with Emirates’ wider ties to New Zealand. According to company statements, the airline has operated services to the country since 2003 and currently flies daily A380 services to Auckland, in addition to Christchurch via Sydney, as well as trans-Tasman routes. This operational presence underpins Emirates’ continued visibility in the market beyond sport.

Beyond the America’s Cup, Emirates remains active across the global sailing calendar, including involvement in SailGP and partnerships with teams such as Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team. Official communications also point to a broader sponsorship portfolio that spans major international sports and cultural events, reflecting the airline’s strategy of using long-term partnerships to reach global audiences.

As preparations begin for the regattas leading up to Naples 2027, the renewed naming sponsorship ensures Emirates will remain closely associated with one of sailing’s most successful teams, extending a relationship that has become closely intertwined with the modern history of the America’s Cup.

The renewed agreement builds on a partnership that dates back to 2004, when Emirates first joined Team New Zealand as naming sponsor during the team’s campaign to reclaim the America’s Cup. Based on earlier official announcements, the relationship has spanned multiple Cup cycles, including near-misses in Valencia in 2007 and San Francisco in 2013, before delivering landmark victories in Bermuda in 2017 and a successful home defence in Auckland in 2021. Emirates continued its support through the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024, a period that also coincided with the airline marking two decades of operations in New Zealand. Throughout that time, the sponsorship has combined prominent on-water branding with wider digital and broadcast exposure, reflecting a long-term commitment to New Zealand sailing and a partnership shaped by shared emphasis on innovation, performance and global reach.