Anticipation is building as the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 prepares to light up the Silk Road, with the series heading for a three-stop tour across Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 serves as an ideal competitive lead-in to the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing this December, rewarding standout performances across the tour through a new wild card qualification system and a substantial prize pool of USD $1.2 million.
World Aquatics reminds media that accreditation for all three stops is open, and applications can be submitted via the World Aquatics GMS Media Accreditation portal.
Silk Road Tour 2026
The tour runs across three historic cities that once linked East and West along the ancient Silk Road:
- 1-3 October – Baku, Azerbaijan
- 8-10 October – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- 15-17 October – Astana, Kazakhstan
The Silk Road Tour carries extra significance for swimmers chasing a place at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing this December. A new wild card system will be trialled across the three stops, offering swimmers a direct route to qualification.
Any swimmer finishing in the top three of an individual event final, while also achieving an A standard time, at any of the three stops will earn a wild card place in Beijing. As a result, each Member Federation will be able to field up to three additional swimmers at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m).
The Swimming World Cup 2026 also features a total prize pool of USD $1.2 million, excluding bonuses. On top of standard prize money:
- World Record-setters will each receive an additional USD $10,000
- Crown winners – athletes who win the same event at all three stops, or two of the three 800m/1500m Freestyle races – will also receive an additional USD $10,000
“I'm really looking forward to the Silk Road Tour,” said Siobhan Haughey (HKG), four-time Olympic medallist and 19-time gold medal winner at Swimming World Cups.
"Swimming World Cup racing always brings a great atmosphere, and this tour is heading to some cities we haven't raced in before, which makes it even more exciting"
“I'm expecting some fast racing over the next few weeks.”
“There's a good buzz building around this tour already. I've been training well, and I'm excited to get out there and race. It's always a fun stretch of the season, and with so much at stake over the coming weeks, I think racing across Baku, Tashkent and Astana will bring a different kind of energy to the season,” said Cameron McEvoy (AUS), Men’s 50m Freestyle Olympic champion and eight-time Swimming World Cup gold medallist.
Media Accreditation Reminder
Accreditation for the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 Silk Road Tour is open and remains available for national and international media wishing to cover any or all of the three stops. Media are reminded to submit accreditation applications individually for each tour stop through the World Aquatics GMS Media Accreditation portal.
Media are encouraged to apply as early as possible ahead of each stop. Deadlines for accreditation applications are:
- 29 September – Baku, Azerbaijan
- 6 October – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- 13 October – Astana, Kazakhstan
Accreditation is open to all members of the written press, photographic press, online media, and writers/photographers working for publications and/or websites of World Aquatics National Member Federations.
Applicants are responsible for checking their own visa requirements to enter each of the three host countries.
International registrations are approved by the World Aquatics Communications Department, while domestic registrations are approved by the Local Organising Committee of the relevant host city.
Media who have previously attended a World Aquatics/FINA event should use their existing World Aquatics GMS account.
Accredited media collect and validate credentials on-site and must present a valid passport to receive accreditation.
The recording of video material inside any competition or training venue is strictly reserved for Rights Holding Broadcasters; any breach may result in cancellation of accreditation.
For accreditation queries, contact gms@worldaquatics.com.
Key Media Contacts
World Aquatics Media Relations – International Press
Callum Davies, World Aquatics Communications Director
Email: callum.davies@worldaquatics.com / media@worldaquatics.com
World Aquatics Broadcast Relations – International Broadcasters
Peter Hall, World Aquatics Senior Broadcast Manager
Email: peter.hall@worldaquatics.com