FPV Competitions in Portugal: Calendar and How to Participate in 2026

In this article

TL;DR:

In 2026, Portugal has at least 8 confirmed FPV racing events — more than ever before
Most operate under the MultiGP banner, with international rankings
You can participate as a beginner in the Open class — you don’t need to be a pro
Minimum equipment: 5″ FPV drone, FPV goggles, radio and batteries (~€600-900 to start)
The Portuguese community is small but incredibly welcoming — don’t be afraid to show up

If you’d told me five years ago that Portugal would have a serious FPV competition calendar, I would have laughed. Yet here we are in 2026, with more events than ever. The Portuguese FPV scene has grown from a handful of enthusiasts to an organized community with rankings and sponsorship.

Best part? You don’t need to be a champion. There are categories for all levels. Let’s get into it.

What Is FPV Racing, Anyway?

For those just arriving: FPV racing is first-person view drone racing. You wear goggles that show in real-time what the drone’s camera sees, and you pilot at speeds that easily exceed 150 km/h through circuits with gates, flags, and obstacles.

It’s like a video game, but real. And when you crash (and you will crash), the drone breaks for real. It’s part of the experience — in fact, if you don’t break anything during an event, you probably weren’t trying hard enough.

If you want to better understand whether FPV is for you, read my article on FPV drones for beginners.

FPV Competition Calendar in Portugal — 2026

Here’s what we know so far for 2026. Note: some events don’t have exact confirmed dates yet, so the expected month is indicated. I’ll update this list as new announcements appear.

Confirmed Events

Portugal FPV Open — Leiria (March 22-23, 2026) — Season opener. Outdoor circuit, Open and Pro classes. Registration via MultiGP. Fee: €25.
Algarve Drone Racing Cup — Portimão (April 18-19, 2026) — Circuit at the Algarve International Circuit (yes, the same one as MotoGP!). Spectator-friendly format. Fee: €30.
Porto FPV Meetup & Race — Matosinhos (May 24, 2026) — More informal event, combination of community meetup and race. Ideal for first-timers. Fee: €15.
MultiGP Chapter Race #1 — Lisbon (June 14-15, 2026) — Part of the MultiGP Global Qualifier ranking. Standardized circuit. Fee: €20.
Summer FPV Jam — Évora (July 19-20, 2026) — Freestyle + racing format. Includes freestyle competition with jury scoring. Fee: €20.
MultiGP Chapter Race #2 — Coimbra (September 13, 2026) — Second round of MultiGP ranking. Fee: €20.
Iberian FPV Challenge — Badajoz/Elvas (October 11-12, 2026) — Joint Portugal-Spain event. The largest in the Iberian Peninsula. Fee: €35.
Portugal FPV Finals — Location TBA (November 2026) — Season finals, access by cumulative ranking. Fee: €30.

Probable Events (Not Yet Confirmed)

Azores Drone Festival (August 2026) — Previous edition in São Miguel was fantastic. Awaiting confirmation from local organizers.
Tiny Whoop Night Race — Porto (Date TBA) — Indoor mini drone racing (Tiny Whoop). Accessible, fun and less intimidating for beginners.

How to Participate: Step by Step

1. Register on MultiGP

Most events in Portugal operate through the MultiGP platform (multigp.com). Registration is free and gives you a pilot profile with global rankings. Search for the “Portugal FPV Racing” chapter to see available events.

2. Get Your Documentation

Even for competitions, you need to be legal with ANAC. This means:

UAS operator registration with ANAC (free since 2024)
Civil liability insurance — mandatory (more on this in drone insurance coverage)
A1/A3 training completed (free online course)

Event organizations typically handle the necessary airspace authorizations. You don’t need to worry about that.

3. Register for the Event

Registrations typically open 4-6 weeks before the event. Spots are limited (typically 24-32 pilots per event) and sell out quickly for larger events. Don’t leave it to the last minute.

4. Show Up and Have Fun

Seriously, it’s that simple. Show up, set up your quad in the paddock, do the free practice runs, and race. Everyone will help you if you have technical problems — that’s how the FPV community works.

Equipment Needed

I’ll be direct: it doesn’t need to be the most expensive equipment in the world, but you can’t show up with just anything either.

The Bare Minimum

5″ FPV Drone — The standard format for racing. You can buy ready-to-fly (BNF/RTF) or build your own. To start, I recommend the iFlight Nazgul V2 (~€250) or GEPRC Mark5 (~€280). If you want to invest more, read about investing in an FPV racer drone.
FPV Goggles — Don’t skimp too much here. DJI Goggles 3 (~€450) are the current standard for digital systems. In analog, Skyzone SKY04X (~€350) remain excellent.
Radio/Controller — RadioMaster Pocket (~€70) to start, or Boxer (~€120) for something more robust. ELRS protocol is the standard in 2026.
6S 1300mAh LiPo Batteries — Minimum 6 batteries for a competition day. Recommended brands: CNHL, Tattu, GNB. Around €25-30 each.
Charger — ISDT Q6 Plus (~€50) or ToolkitRC M6 (~€40). Bring an extension cord because there aren’t always outlets near the paddock.
Spare Parts — Propellers (lots!), arms, extra motors. At least 3 sets of propellers and one spare motor.

Realistic Budget to Start

Adding everything up (drone + goggles + radio + batteries + charger + parts), expect an initial investment between €600 and €900 for a competitive but not top-of-the-line setup. Yes, it’s an expensive hobby — but not much more than, say, serious road cycling or photography.

You can spend much less if you opt for analog instead of digital, or if you buy used equipment (there’s quite a bit in the Portuguese community marketplace).

Classes and Categories

Most events in Portugal follow the MultiGP format:

Open — For all registered pilots. No ranking requirements. This is where you should start.
Sport — Intermediate level. Generally requires having completed at least 2-3 Open events.
Pro — For pilots with high MultiGP ranking. The fastest, the craziest.
Freestyle — Not racing, it’s style. Scoring based on creativity, fluidity, and trick difficulty. Very popular in Portugal.
Tiny Whoop — Indoor mini drones. Separate category, more accessible and fun.

Typical Event Format

Don’t know what to expect? Here’s how a typical competition day works:

8am-10am: Arrival, check-in, equipment inspection, safety briefing.

10am-12pm: Free practice. 2-3 laps to learn the circuit and fine-tune rates.

12pm-1pm: Lunch. Barbecue or food truck. Socializing as important as racing.

1pm-5pm: Races in heats (4-6 pilots), classified by time. Fastest advance to knockouts and final.

5pm-6pm: Finals, prizes and the inevitable “one more lap.”

Tips for Your First Competition

Things I wish someone had told me before my first race:

Don’t go to win — Go to learn and meet people. If you finish all laps without hitting a net, that’s already a victory.
Train on a simulator — Velocidrone and Liftoff are the reference simulators. 30 minutes per day for a month makes an enormous difference.
Bring more propellers than you think necessary — Seriously. Bring double. And then bring some more.
Arrive early — You need time to set up, test, and solve last-minute problems (and there will be problems).
Make friends in the paddock — The FPV community is one of the most generous I know. People lend tools, parts, and even entire drones if yours dies.
Film everything — Your goggles’ DVR records automatically, but also bring a GoPro. The footage is always spectacular.

The Portuguese FPV Community

The FPV scene in Portugal has 150-200 active pilots, but it’s incredibly passionate. The main groups:

Portugal FPV Racing (Facebook) — ~800 members, the main hub for event announcements
FPV Portugal (Discord) — More active chat, ideal for technical questions and arranging flying sessions
MultiGP Portugal Chapter — Official profile on multigp.com with calendar and rankings

Show up at an informal meetup before registering for a competition — you’ll meet people and someone will probably let you try their drone.

Conclusion

FPV racing in Portugal has never been this accessible. More events, more pilots, cheaper equipment. Buy a radio and a simulator, train for a month, and register in the Open class. The worst that happens is breaking propellers and making friends for life.

See you on the track!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special license to participate in FPV competitions?

There’s no specific competition license. You need ANAC operator registration (free), A1/A3 training, and mandatory insurance. The event organization handles airspace authorizations. If you want to know more about the process, check the guide on how to get a drone license.

How much does it cost to participate in an FPV competition in Portugal?

Registration fees range from €15 to €35 per event. The real cost is in equipment: a complete racing setup costs between €600 and €900, plus spare parts (~€50-100 per event for propellers and repairs). Once you have the equipment, the hobby is relatively affordable.

Can I participate with a DJI FPV or DJI Avata?

Generally no. Racing events use custom or BNF (Bind-N-Fly) 5-inch FPV drones. The DJI FPV and Avata 2 are great for recreational freestyle, but they’re not competitive or compatible with the MultiGP race format. Some events have special categories, but these are exceptions.

I’m a total beginner — where do I start?

Start with a simulator (Velocidrone, €18) and a compatible radio (RadioMaster Pocket, ~€70). Train for at least a month. Then, join an informal community meetup before registering for a competition. The Open class accepts pilots of all levels.

Miguel Santos

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