Nestled in northeastern Argentina at the confluence of the Paraná and Salado rivers, the provincial capital has a rich open water heritage, having hosted 11 editions of the Ultramarathon Swim Series from 2007 to 2019.

Argentina’s open water tradition runs deep, with the country having hosted 34 previous World Aquatics events, spanning Open Water Swimming World Cup stops and Ultramarathon Swim Series competitions.

Image Source: Guillermo Vittorio Bertola, Martin Miguel Carrizo Yunges and Florencia Belen Mazzei Villegas of Argentina start at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The nautical club on Lago Sur in Parque del Sur will host next year’s World Junior Championships. The freshwater lake, located beside the Salado River, will welcome more than 250 athletes aged 14 to 19 from over 40 countries.

Image Source: Singapore 2025 gold medallist Ichika Kajimoto of Japan made her international debut at the 2022 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships in the Seychelles (Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

Recent editions of the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships have featured future stars such as world championship medallists Ichika Kajimoto (JPN), David Betlehem (HUN), Bettina Fabian (HUN), Katie Grimes (USA), as well as World Cup podium placers Sacha Velly (FRA) and Claire Weinstein (USA). Fans can anticipate another strong lineup in Santa Fe.

Image Source: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto / World Aquatics

Argentina Aquatics Confederation President Sergio Rubén Antonini welcomed the announcement, saying:

“We are very excited to be bringing next year’s World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships to our historic city. We have a proud history of hosting the world’s open water elite here. With the global pandemic, we couldn’t host the Ultramarathon Swim Series for three years, so these Championships mark a fresh start for us as an event host. We have a passionate fan base and strong local support for open water swimming, so we couldn’t be prouder to bring the world back to Santa Fe next September.”

Image Source: Argentine Cecilia Biagioli after the Women's Marathon 10km Swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Antonini also noted that Santa Fe will host the 2026 South American Games from 12–26 September, with the World Junior Championships serving as a test event for the open water competitions at Parque del Sur.

Image Source: Ignacio Stambuk of Argentina competes in the Boys 3km Knockout Sprint at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Alghero, Italy (Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto / World Aquatics)

The three-day World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming World Championships 2026 will feature a diverse range of events, including 5km (14-15 years), 7.5km (16-17 years), 10km (18-19 years) and the 3km Knockout Sprints for men and women, and conclude with the Mixed 4x1500m Relays.