Dubrovnik has long been used to famous faces, but this weekend the city welcomed two of the biggest names in world sport. LeBron James and Rafael Nadal arrived in Dubrovnik during the E1 Dubrovnik GP 2026, adding a major celebrity spotlight to one of the city’s most spectacular sporting events of the year.
The NBA icon and the tennis legend came to support their teams in the E1 Championship, the world’s first all-electric raceboat series. Their arrival turned Dubrovnik’s already exciting race weekend into a true international show.
Another NBA name, Kyle Kuzma, had already added to the celebrity atmosphere on Friday, when he arrived in Dubrovnik as co-owner of Sierra Racing Club. You can read more about his Dubrovnik appearance here.
LeBron supports Team AlUla
LeBron James, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, is connected with Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James. His team competed in Dubrovnik with pilots Nerea Martí and Rusty Wyatt, and finished the weekend on the podium, taking third place at the Dubrovnik GP.
LeBron’s presence attracted particular attention at Hotel Excelsior, where he met Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković. In one of the most photographed moments of the day, the basketball superstar also signed a jersey for Plenković’s son.
Nadal in town for Team Rafa
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal also arrived in Dubrovnik to support Team Rafa, his E1 racing team. The team is represented by pilots Cris Lazarraga and Tom Chiappe, who competed in a demanding race weekend shaped by strong winds and challenging sea conditions.
Nadal’s appearance added another layer of glamour to the event, bringing together tennis, basketball and electric powerboat racing in a city already known for attracting international stars.
A celebrity-driven championship
E1 is not an ordinary racing series. Its appeal comes not only from electric RaceBird boats and high-speed action on the water, but also from its impressive list of team owners. Alongside LeBron James and Rafael Nadal, the championship includes names such as Will Smith, Tom Brady, Steve Aoki, Marc Anthony, Didier Drogba and Kyle Kuzma.
That combination of sport, entertainment, technology and sustainability has made E1 one of the most visually attractive new global competitions. In Dubrovnik, the format feels especially natural: futuristic boats racing between sea, stone and sky, with the Old City as a dramatic setting.
Dubrovnik in the celebrity spotlight
The arrival of LeBron James and Rafael Nadal confirms Dubrovnik’s growing role as more than a travel destination. During E1 weekend, the city became a meeting point for world-class athletes, international media, luxury hospitality and fans following the next generation of racing.
For visitors, it was a rare chance to see global sports legends in a setting far removed from basketball arenas and tennis courts. For Dubrovnik, it was another reminder of how powerfully the city can attract attention when the right event meets the right stage.
With LeBron, Nadal, Kyle Kuzma and other global names in town, the E1 Dubrovnik GP 2026 became one of the most star-studded weekends of the season.
