- World Aquatics today announced that Beijing will host the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in late 2026, following a competitive bidding process and careful consideration by the World Aquatics Bureau.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 29.07.2025) :: The Chinese capital will welcome over 1,000 world-class athletes from more than 200 countries and regions to compete across six exciting competition days at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) – Beijing 2026.
The announcement, made during the World Aquatics General Congress that is taking place alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore, recognised Beijing's demonstrated excellence in hosting previous top-level events in swimming, diving, water polo, and artistic swimming. With Beijing already set to host the World Aquatics Championships in 2029, the city will soon add open water swimming and high diving to its impressive aquatics resume.
The only city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – in 2008 and 2022, respectively – Beijing, and China more broadly, are highly respected within the international aquatics’ community. China has hosted 109 previous World Aquatics events, including the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai. 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.
With a track record of hosting 38 previous World Aquatics events, Beijing is well-positioned to deliver an unforgettable experience for athletes and fans in 2026.
The announcement, made during the World Aquatics General Congress that is taking place alongside the World Aquatics Championship and World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore, recognised Beijing's demonstrated excellence in hosting previous top-level events in swimming, diving, water polo, and artistic swimming. With Beijing already set to host the World Aquatics Championships in 2029, the city will soon add open water swimming and high diving to its impressive aquatics resume.
The showcase global swimming event will be organised in close cooperation with the China Swimming Association and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports.
China Swimming Association President Zhou Jihong welcomed the announcement, saying: “We are thrilled and deeply honoured to host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2026 in Beijing, a city with a proud Olympic history and a passion for aquatic sports.
"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. We look forward to welcoming swimming fans from around the globe and providing an unforgettable experience for all.”
World and Olympic champion and Men’s 100m freestyle long-course World Record holder Pan Zhanle also expressed his excitement about the 18th edition of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) coming to Beijing.
“I can’t wait to compete at the World Swimming Championships in Beijing,” said Pan. “The atmosphere and energy of short-course racing, combined with the intensity of a championship event, will create an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. With so many records falling at the 2024 short-course Worlds, I aim to add my name to that list in 2026 in front of my home fans. Hearing that this prestigious event is coming to China in 2026 is exciting, and I know the fans will bring amazing support.”
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