Fort Myers Beach is getting its roar back. The Roar Offshore powerboat races are returning to the island September 11–13, 2026 — the first time the event has been held since Hurricane Ian devastated the community in September 2022. Organizers announced the comeback on August 4, and local leaders are already framing it as more than just a race weekend.
Jacki Liszak, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, called the event a celebration of the community's recovery and an opportunity to put the island's rebuilt restaurants, businesses, and beaches in front of visitors from across the country. The last Roar Offshore event took place in October 2021, just under a year before Ian made landfall.
The series changed hands this past June, when co-founders Tim and Cyndee Hill — who launched the event in 2019 — sold Roar Offshore to offshore racers Shaun Torrente and Cole Leibel. The Hills cited demanding travel schedules tied to other professional commitments and said the new owners were the right fit to carry the event forward.
The three-day schedule kicks off Friday, September 12 with team arrivals, inspections, practice runs, and the opening of a Race Village featuring boats on display, vendor exhibits, and driver meet-and-greets. Saturday brings qualifying heats, a public Pit Party, and premium waterfront viewing. Championship Day on Sunday, September 13 wraps things up with the premier races, an awards ceremony, and an America 250 Closing Celebration. Organizers expect tens of thousands of spectators, and admission to watch from the beach is generally free.
More details, including the Race Village location, can be found at roaroffshore.com and fortmyersbeach.org. This story was originally reported by Charles Runnells for the Fort Myers News-Press.
