With the 2026 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup soon to get underway with the series' 20th edition, World Aquatics opens the host bidding process for the sport's 2027 and 2028 World Cups.
As the global governing body for aquatic sports prepares to celebrate two decades of elite open water swimming competition, World Aquatics is now seeking ambitious host cities to continue the legacy with the 2027 and 2028 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup series.
The Open Water Swimming World Cup brings together the world’s leading endurance swimmers across multiple international stops each season, offering host destinations a platform to showcase their waterways, tourism infrastructure, and sporting capabilities to a global audience.
Explore the Expression of Interest Hosting document for the Open Water Swimming World Cup HERE. Inside, you'll find important insights that can guide your decision-making process.
Bidding Timeline and Process
The bidding process launches on 16 February 2026 when World Aquatics invites interested parties to complete the Expression of Interest form. Prospective hosts have until 27 February 2026 to submit these documents.
Successful applicants will receive essential bidding documentation on 2 March 2026, including the Bid Guide, which outlines operational requirements, the draft hosting agreement, and the Bid Application Questionnaire.
The Q&A stage runs from 9-16 March, allowing candidates to clarify requirements and address questions with World Aquatics officials.
Candidate Phase Milestones
The formal candidate phase begins in April with the 4 April 2026 deadline for completed bid questionnaires and comments on the draft hosting agreement. This represents the most substantial deliverable, requiring candidates to demonstrate technical capabilities, financial capacity, and operational readiness.
April also offers the observer programme for shortlisted candidates to gain insights into current World Cup operations and offers additional Q&A opportunities between host candidates and World Aquatics.
Final candidate presentations will take place during the week commencing 27 April, allowing each city to showcase its vision and address any remaining questions from the evaluation panel.
The candidate phase concludes on 1 May 2026, with a deadline for final bid submissions and signed host agreements, ensuring equal preparation time while providing World Aquatics with the necessary documentation for final selection.
Advantages of Hosting World Cup Events
Hosting the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup offers destinations opportunities to elevate their international profile and generate significant economic and social benefits.
Commercial opportunities include domestic sponsorship partnerships, hotel commissions, government grants and contributions, ticketing and hospitality revenue, tourism packages, and VIP hospitality offerings. Additionally, hosts can exploit the event's linear broadcast rights within their territory, maximising local media value.
World Aquatics brings robust event communications to a global audience through its proactive press office and editorial communications team. The organisation maintains a digital audience of over 8 million followers across its owned social media channels, ensuring extensive reach and engagement. In-venue branding opportunities for partners further enhance the commercial proposition.
Host Testimonials | What Holding the World Cup Means for the Hosts
Somabay, Egypt – Social and Community Impact
“Hosting a World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup event provides meaningful social value beyond competition day,” said Ezz Nour, CEO of Mindset, and instrumental to Somabay hosting multiple World Cup events in recent years. “The event creates employment opportunities and enables the development of a structured volunteer engagement programme, including sustainability-focused training, event support roles such as waste sorting and water and energy monitoring, as well as participation in community initiatives like aquatic education and post-event clean-ups.
“We’ve seen that World Cup hosting also provides a valuable pathway for National Technical Officials to gain international exposure and experience, supporting their progression toward International Technical Official status and potential nomination for mega events, like the World Aquatics Championships and even the Olympic Games.”
Ibiza, Spain – Elevating the Athlete and Fan Experience
“The athlete engagement programme associated with the World Cup has been a significant differentiator for Ibiza. The presence of elite swimmers from the top tier of the world rankings guarantees participation and enhances the competitive field,” said Royal Spanish Swimming Federation President Fernando Carpena.“These athletes conduct coaching clinics for local children and take part in meet-and-greet sessions, creating memorable moments for fans and aspiring swimmers.
Their global social media reach and international fan bases help promote the event and destination organically, attracting visitors from their home countries and increasing awareness of the host city’s culture, sporting scene, and tourism offerings.”
How to Express Interest in Hosting
Let’s explore your city’s potential. Write to World Aquatics at host.bidding@worldaquatics.com for initial inquiries and personalised guidance through the bidding process.
The complete Host Bidding documentation package is available HERE and provides detailed operational requirements and hosting guidelines for prospective candidates.