F1 Powerboat Championship Returns to Alton July 17–19 | Our Daily Show Interview
ALTON - The Alton Powerboat Nationals will return to the Riverbend this weekend.
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From July 17–19, 2026, community members can enjoy the Alton Riverfront and F1 powerboat races on the Mississippi River. Tim Seebold, managing director of the races, noted that this year’s experience promises to be bigger and better than ever.
“It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “Come out to Alton Riverfront Park and let’s have some fun.”
The events on Friday, July 17, 2026, are free to attend. The fun begins at 1 p.m. with a Test and Tune session at Riverfront Park. A street party rounds out the night from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Third Street in downtown Alton, with live entertainment sponsored by Catdaddy’s. Attendees can enjoy a meet-and-greet with the racers and their crews.
Racing kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19. The championship awards ceremony starts at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 19.
Seebold noted that you can watch a stream of the races, but it’s best to come out to Riverfront Park and see them firsthand. He hopes many Alton residents and visitors enjoy the up-close viewing opportunity.
“The absolute perfect place to do it is at Riverfront Park,” he explained. “The cool thing about that is, you’re elevated 15–20 feet above the water. You can see the start dock right below you. Where you’re at in VIP, the starting line is literally right below you. So you’re looking at all the boats, all the crews doing what they do at the start of the event, and they all take off from there. The viewing is absolutely spectacular.”
General admission tickets start at $15 per day or $25 for a weekend pass. You can enjoy a VIP experience for $125 per day or $200 for the weekend, which includes food and drink specials and meet-and-greet opportunities with the racers. You can buy tickets online.
This year marks the third year that the city has hosted the Alton Powerboat Nationals, but Seebold shared that Alton has an impressive history of powerboat racing. Alton’s stretch of the Mississippi River has been home to powerboat races dating back to the 1890s.
Seebold is proud to continue the tradition and thankful for the many organizations and businesses that make it possible, including the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, the City of Alton, Alton’s Parks and Recreation Department, and many more.
He added that the racers enjoy returning to Alton and look forward to spending a weekend in town. They are thankful for the community’s engagement and eager to put on a good show for everyone who attends.
“They love it,” Seebold said. “It’s a beautiful setting. They love the community support that we get for it, and they’re excited to come back.”
For more information about the Alton Powerboat Nationals, including how to buy your tickets and how to watch the races, visit the official webpage. Seebold encourages people to come out and enjoy the experience.
“It’ll be action-packed for three days,” he added. “We’re looking forward to crowning some champions here in Alton.”
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