Fans can now secure their seats for six days of world-class short-course racing at the Beijing National Aquatics Centre, known as the Water Cube, running from 1-6 December 2026. Tickets are available here.

The mascot Sail is inspired by the sailfish, the fastest fish in the ocean. Together with the slogan Break the Waves, Push the Limits, they give the Championships a distinct identity celebrating the speed, courage and determination of athletes always looking to go faster.

World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said: “We are grateful to the Beijing 2026 Organising Committee for their partnership and continued preparations in delivering a memorable experience for fans at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m). With Sail and our new slogan, the Championships now has a face and a voice that encapsulates the extraordinary energy that surrounds this event and achievements of the athletes who continue to push the limits. Tickets are on sale, and we invite fans to join us in December for six days of outstanding racing.”

The Beijing 2026 Organising Committee commented: “Sail brings the spirit of speed and determination to life, and Break the Waves, Push the Limits captures what this Championships is all about. With tickets now available, we warmly invite swimming fans from China and around the world to experience the Championships this December, in a world-class venue with a proud Olympic heritage.”

Meet Sail

Sail is a round, playful sailfish with plenty of personality. Its streamlined form reflects the power of swimmers in the pool, while its spirited character is all about leading the field and surpassing limits.

Sail will be making a splash across the Championships in a range of official products, including plush charms, badges, fridge magnets, keychains, cushions, drinkware and stationery. Fans can also dress Sail up in an interactive dress-up game.

“Break the Waves, Push the Limits”

The official slogan reflects the ambition of the world’s best swimmers as they race for medals and records in the pool, and the spirit of a city that has hosted the Olympic Games in both summer and winter.

Pushing the limits is something swimmers do routinely. At the last World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest in 2024, they set 30 World Records, the most ever at a single edition, and the Swimming World Cup 2026 has already produced record-breaking swims. With the event less than six weeks away, the reveal marks the start of the final build-up.

Swimming fans in Beijing and around the world can now look forward to seeing the sport’s biggest names race in the Water Cube, which hosted swimming at Beijing 2008 and curling at Beijing 2022, making it one of the few venues in the world to have staged both summer and winter Olympic competition.

Silk Road Tour stars look ahead to Beijing

The stars of the Swimming World Cup 2026 are already looking ahead to the Championships.

Women’s overall World Cup winner Marrit Steenbergen (NED) said: “I’m really excited. My form is really good now. I’m already better than I was at the Europeans last year, so that’s really exciting. I’m really looking forward to going to Beijing. It’s going to be a new place. I’ve never been to China, so that will be a first.”

Men’s overall World Cup winner Pieter Coetze (RSA) said: “I think right now it’s exciting to know that I can perform short course, because it’s not something I do often. After these performances, I am very confident heading into it. I know there’ll be some guys who weren’t here and the standard will be higher, but I’ll be confident. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and it’s going to be tough.”

China’s Yu Yiting, second overall in the women’s standings, looked forward to her home Championships: “I’m really excited to compete in China, in Beijing, in my country, and welcome everybody to come to Beijing. I think Beijing is a very beautiful city.”

Tickets now on sale

Tickets for the Championships are now available here.

Full details including the competition schedule are available here.