Accreditation is open to all international members of the written press, photographic press, online media, and writers/photographers working for publications and/or websites of World Aquatics National Member Federations.

Applications can be submitted via the World Aquatics GMS Media Accreditation portal.

International media are encouraged to apply as early as possible ahead of the Championships, noting the visa requirements to enter the country.

Visa requirements for media

To allow sufficient time for visa processing, all international media participants requiring an Invitation Letter should complete the required registration and documentation by 23:59 CEST on 6 October 2026. After the deadline, the LOC will be unable to assist with the visa application.

To receive an official Invitation Letter, media personnel must ensure that their GMS registration and media accreditation have been submitted and approved by World Aquatics. Participants are strongly encouraged to complete their registration as early as possible and to ensure that all information provided is complete, accurate, and includes the following supporting documents:

• A scanned copy of your passport page (PDF)
• Press card (PDF)
• Proof of employment produced by your working organisation
• Media accreditation approval email from World Aquatics

Participants should regularly check the status of their registration in the GMS and promptly provide any additional information or corrections requested during the approval process.

Please note: official Invitation Letters will only be issued to media representatives whose media accreditation has been approved by World Aquatics. Media personnel who require a visa to enter China are strongly advised to ensure that their registration and accreditation process is completed sufficiently in advance of their visa appointment.

Media personnel that do not require a visa to enter China are also advised to carry their Invitation Letter when travelling, as it may be requested by immigration officers as supporting documentation to facilitate entry clearance.

If you experience any difficulties in submitting an application for media accreditation, please contact: gms@worldaquatics.com

World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) – Beijing 2026

The 18th edition of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) will be held at the Beijing National Aquatics Centre – the Water Cube – from 1 to 6 December 2026, marking the third time China has hosted the event following Shanghai 2006 and Hangzhou 2018.

More than 1,000 athletes from over 200 countries are expected in the Chinese capital, racing across six days for a total prize pool of at least USD $2,025,000. Winners in each individual and relay event will earn USD $10,000, with prize money paid down to 8th place and an additional USD $25,000 on offer for every World Record broken. Swimmers completing the “Double Crown” – winning the same event at all three stops of the 2026 Swimming World Cup Silk Road Tour plus the title in Beijing – will collect a bonus increased to USD $15,000.

Morning sessions will begin from 10:00 local time, with evening sessions starting at 19:00, shifting earlier to 18:00 on the final day (6 December). The full session-by-session schedule is available on the World Aquatics website here.

The Venue

The Beijing National Aquatics Centre, known globally as the Water Cube, previously hosted swimming at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and ice events at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 – making it one of the few venues worldwide to have staged both summer and winter Olympic competition.

Media Transportation & Accommodation

Details on the official media hotel, room rates and shuttle arrangements will be announced closer to the event and published in the official Media Guide.

Media Facilities

World Aquatics and the Beijing 2026 team are committed to delivering a comfortable, efficient working environment for all accredited media, including work desks with power and internet access, a help desk, on-demand results printing, Wi-Fi/LAN access and a media lounge. Full details will be confirmed in the Beijing 2026 Media Guide, to be published closer to the Championships.

Contacts

World Aquatics Communications Team

Contact: Callum Davies, World Aquatics Communications Director

Email: callum.davies@worldaquatics.com / media@worldaquatics.com

World Aquatics Broadcast Relations

Contact: Peter Hall, World Aquatics Senior Broadcast Manager

Email: peter.hall@worldaquatics.com