What’s On Tap? Where Next Year’s Major International Competitions Will Be Held
Following the conclusion of the World Championships in Singapore, there won’t be another long-course global competition until 2027, when the World Champs return to Budapest. Duna Arena has previously been the site of two Worlds, serving as host in 2017 and 2022. When it next welcomes the biggest stars in the sport, the meet will act as a launching point toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
But what about 2026?
Although the world will not come together for a singular meet next year, a handful of international competitions will provide a midway checkpoint on the road to LA2028. Three of the events will be held in the summer, while one will take place in the fall. Here’s a look at the Big Four of 2026.
Asian Games
Site: Tokyo Aquatics Centre (Japan)
Dates: September 19-October 4
Notes: The Asian Games hold significant weight, with China and Japan typically headlining the action. The exact dates for swimming have not yet been determined, but the Tokyo Aquatics Centre has been selected as the venue. That site is outside of the Aichi Prefecture, where most of the sports will be held, but organizers wanted an established facility, and the TAC fits the bill.
One of the athletes to watch is Japanese 16-year-old Shin Ohashi, who owns the fastest time in the world this year in the 200 breaststroke at 2:06.91. Ohashi did not qualify for the World Championships, but his rapid rise will make him a major threat at the Asian Games, where clashes with Chinese world champion Qin Haiyang figure to be on tap.
Commonwealth Games
Site: Tollcross International Swimming Centre (Glasgow)
Dates: July 24-29
Notes: The Commonwealth Games will bring together athletes from countries such as Australia, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand. For Commonwealths, Great Britain is split into its individual nations – England, Wales and Scotland. The competition debuted in 1930 and was known as the British Empire Games. It is held on a quadrennial basis.
The next edition of the Commonwealth Games might be missing a main drawing card in Canadian star Summer McIntosh. According to reports, McIntosh will place her emphasis next summer on the Pan Pacific Championships, which will be held just after the conclusion of Commonwealths. If McIntosh does not compete, there will still be plenty of firepower in the form of Australia’s Kaylee McKeown and South Africa’s Pieter Coetze, among others.
European Championships
Site: Olympic Aquatic Centre (Paris)
Dates: August 10-16
Notes: The European Championships will head to the French capital and the Olympic Aquatic Centre, which held diving, water polo and artistic swimming at last summer’s Olympic Games. Two years after delighting his home nation with Olympic greatness, Leon Marchand will be the focal point of the meet. The main question is what type of schedule will Marchand embrace.
Romania’s David Popovici, who just captured world titles in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, will be another headliner. If it’s not lowered by the start of Euros, Popovici could take another run at the world record in the 100 freestyle. On the women’s side, the Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen (100 freestyle), Germany’s Anna Elendt (100 breaststroke) and Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte (50 breaststroke) will enter the meet as reigning world champions.
Pan Pacific Championships
Site: William Woollett Aquatic Center (Irvine)
Dates: August 12-15
Notes: The Pan Pacific Championships debuted in 1985, founded by charter nations Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States. The meet was developed as an opportunity for high-level international racing in years that did not feature an Olympic Games or World Championships. The last edition of Pan Pacs was held in 2018, due to a restructuring of the international calendar in response to the Covid pandemic.
While Australia will have the Commonwealth Games ahead of Pan Pacs, many of its athletes are expected to compete in both meets. The meet could feature battles between Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, Ariarne Titmus and Lani Pallister in freestyle events. The competition will also include several non-European athletes who are invited to the meet for the chance to race at an elite level.
