USA Swimming Announces Dates, Format Changes for 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series
The 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series will look a little different, USA Swimming announced on Tuesday in unveiling dates and tweaks to each meet.
The four-leg meet will run from January to June. It will feature an “updated competition structure” that includes prelims/semifinals/finals for certain events. Each of the four meets will include one distance event that is a prelims/finals format instead of the usual fastest heat. As such, meets will be now feature four full days (morning and evening sessions) as opposed to the three days plus a leaning evening distance session of the past.
The rationale, per a USA Swimming press release, is “to mirror the racing environment athletes experience at major international meets and enhance long-course racing opportunities throughout the season.”
The meets will take place Jan. 14-17 in Austin, Texas; March 4-7 in Westmont, Ill.; May 20-23 in Sacramento, Calif.; and June 17-20 in Indianapolis.
“In preparation for what’s ahead in LA28, it has become clear we need to create more long-course racing opportunities for our National Team,” said Greg Meehan, Managing Director of the National Team. “This new format at TYR Pro Swim Series meets in 2026 is a great first step by contesting some events in a prelims/semifinals/final format or a prelims/final distance format. It’s especially important in 2026 without a traditional nine-day meet to finish the long-course season.”
In addition, the USA Swimming National Team division has altered the event order slightly. The meet comes with increased prize money at certain meets for certain events. The competition design, as Meehan said, will prepare the U.S. for the 2028 Olympics and fills the pre-planned gap of no selection meet ahead of the Pan Pacific Championships next summer.
From the press release:
These adjustments align with USA Swimming’s broader focus on performance development leading into the next Olympic cycle. By replicating the physical and mental demands of championship-style racing, the TYR Pro Swim Series continues to serve as a critical developmental platform for National Team and National Junior Team athletes on their path to LA28.
The specific changes for each 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series meet:
- Austin, Jan. 14-17: prelims/finals of the women’s 800 free; prelims/semis/finals of 50 strokes and 200 IM; prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of 50 strokes, 200 IM and women’s 800 free
- Westmont, March 4-7: prelims/finals of men’s 800 free; prelims/semis/finals of all 100s; prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of 100s and men’s 800 free
- Sacramento, May 20-23: prelims/finals of women’s 1500 free; prelims/semis/finals of all stroke 200s (excluding 200 IM); prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of stroke 200s (excluding 200 IM) and women’s 1500 free
- Indianapolis, June 17-20: prelims/finals of men’s 1500 free; prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of 400 free, 400 IM and men’s 1500 free
