Beijing to Host 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)

Beijing will host the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) with more than 1,000 athletes from more than 200 countries and regions competing across six days.

The exact dates have not been determined. The announcement was made during the World Aquatics General Congress taking place alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore.

“World Aquatics is delighted that China — a proud swimming nation — and its vibrant capital, Beijing, will host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) for the first time,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. “China has a rich swimming tradition and we are excited to return to Beijing, where we are confident the world’s best short-course swimmers will be given every opportunity to perform at their highest level.”

This will be the third time China has hosted the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), following the 2006 edition in Shanghai and the 2018 championships in Hangzhou.

The only city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – in 2008 and 2022, respectively – Beijing is already set to host the World Aquatics Championships in 2029.

“This prestigious competition brings together the world’s best swimmers and with the remarkable number of World Records broken at the last edition, we anticipate another great spectacle,” said China Swimming Association President Zhou Jihong. “We look forward to welcoming swimming fans from around the globe and providing an unforgettable experience for all.”