Trio of International Meets Will Make for Spectacular Summer of Competition
The summer ahead should provide plenty of highlights, with three major international championships dotting the calendar. This year marks a campaign that is devoid of a global competition, a scenario that has not unfolded since 2020, when the Covid pandemic delayed the Olympic Games in Tokyo and initiated a domino effect that led to World Championships being held each from 2022-2025, and the Olympics contested in 2021 and 2024.
However, the calendar has returned to its typical setup, which means this summer will feature regional meets ahead of next year’s World Championships in Budapest and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Commonwealth Games (Glasgow) will jumpstart high-level competition in late July, with the European Championships (Paris) and Pan Pacific Championships (Irvine) following.
Numerous athletes will race in multiple meets, including Australian stars Mollie O’Callaghan and Lani Pallister at Commonwealths and Pan Pacs. Yet, while most Aussies will perform double duty and venture from Scotland to California, some big names have opted for only the Commonwealth Games. Olympic champions Cam McEvoy and Kyle Chalmers can be counted in this group.
From Great Britain, the likes of Duncan Scott and Adam Peaty will race at both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. At Commonwealths, United Kingdom athletes will represent their specific homeland (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), before reuniting at Euros as Great Britain. At Europeans, Olympic champs Leon Marchand (France), David Popovici (Romania), Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) and Hubert Kos (Hungary) will be headliners.
Because some much-desired duels will not unfold due to the lack of a global meet, time comparisons from the regional meets will be a norm for the summer.
Here’s a capsule look at this summer’s major competitions:
Commonwealth Games
Host City: Glasgow, Scotland
Venue: Tollcross International Swimming Centre
Dates: July 24-29, 2026
Debut Edition: 1930 (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
Latest Edition: 2022 (Birmingham, England)
Official Website: https://www.glasgow2026.com/
Note: The Commonwealth Games were originally named the British Empire Games. Eligibility is afforded to athletes who hail from a Commonwealth of Nations country or territory.
European Championships
Host City: Paris, France
Venue: Olympic Aquatics Centre
Dates: August 10-16, 2026
Debut Edition: 1926 (Budapest, Hungary)
Latest Edition: 2024 (Belgrade, Serbia)
Official Website: https://europeanaquatics.org/paris-2026/
Note: The European Championships are held in a biennial format, with the host city shifting around the continent. Each nation can enter four athletes per event, but only the two-fastest swimmers will advance to semifinals and finals.
Pan Pacific Championships
Host City: Irvine, California
Venue: William Woollett Aquatic Center
Dates: August 12-15, 2026
Debut Edition: 1985 (Tokyo, Japan)
Latest Edition: 2018 (Tokyo, Japan)
Official Website: https://www.usaswimming.org/event/2026/08/12/default-calendar/pan-pacific-swimming-championships
Note: The Pan Pacific Championships debuted in 1985 when the United States, Australia, Japan and Canada created the meet for off years between the Olympic Games and World Championships. However, the meet is not limited to athletes from the charter nations, as non-European competitors are eligible to participate.
