Saltwater Start Line Swimming Events in 2026
For those who plan their travels around extraordinary experiences, open-water swim races offer a compelling reason to set course for 2026.
These are the races to enter for those looking to transform their time on deck by testing their skills in spectacular waters.
GLOBAL SWIMMING EVENTS 2026
South32 Rottnest Channel Swim, 21 February 2026
Location: Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island, Western Australia
This iconic 19.7 km crossing from the Perth coast to Rottnest Island is one of the world’s most revered swimming events, attracting elite and recreational distance swimmers alike.
BEST Fest, 23-29 May 2026
Location: Colònia Sant Jordi, Mallorca
This weeklong festival of swimming invites fun for all. With a packed social programme of BBQs, live music and a chance to absorb the local culture alongside 1.5 km, 10km, relay, time trials and the legendary 3-race ‘Colonia Classics’ series taking place.
Harmonie Mutuelle Cassis Open Swim, 6 June 2026
Location: Cassis, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
In between exploring the turquoise waters of the Côte D’Azur or Calanques National Park, participants can test themselves in the Harmonie Mutuelle Cassis Open Swim. With distances spanning 500m – 10km, there is truly something for all abilities here.
Escape from Alcatraz Swim, 6-7 June 2026
Location: Alcatraz Island to San Francisco Bay, USA
For thrill seekers looking to be pushed to the limit, this triathlon offers an unmistakable sense of drama defined by this legacy crossing. A 2.4 km swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco shores is followed by a 29 km cycle through the hills, finished with a 12.8 km run across the bay.
Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim, 23 August 2026
Location: Kanlıca to Kuruçeşme, Turkey
A rare opportunity to swim between continents, this 6.5 km race takes place in the Bosphorus Strait with participants swimming from Europe to Asia. Anchor along the Marmara Sea, turning race day into a front-row cultural spectacle.
Waikiki Roughwater Swim, 30 August 2026
Location: Sans Souci Beach to Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii
This 3.8 km point-to-point swim traces Hawaii’s south shore through the rolling Pacific swell. Open to amateurs, it combines serious open-water conditions with an effortlessly glamorous yachting backdrop.
Spetses Mini Marathon, 4 October 2026
Location: Poseidon Beach, Spetses, Greece
This 3km challenge is a race against the clock. Tracing the Spetses coastline, participants must complete the race within 120 minutes, pushing themselves to the limit while taking in the island’s autumnal sun-drenched scenery.
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