Baku to host 2026 Swimming World Cup opener for first time

For the first time in its history, Azerbaijan will host a tournament under the auspices of the international federation World Aquatics, as announced by Torin Koos, Communication Manager at the federation.

He said Baku will serve as the starting point of the 2026 Swimming World Cup as part of the Silk Road Tour, according to local media.

He noted that after the record-breaking 2025 World Cup in North America, the tour is once again shifting eastward toward Asia and will serve as an important stage in preparation for the 18th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), to be held in Beijing. During the tour, athletes will compete for individual and world records, Triple Crown bonuses, as well as titles for the best male and female swimmers of the 2026 World Cup.

Baku was chosen not only as the starting point of the tour but also as the first city in Azerbaijan to host an official World Aquatics competition. The Baku Aquatics Palace already has extensive experience hosting major international tournaments, having previously hosted the 2015 European Games, the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, and the 2019 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival.

Zaur Aliyev, President of the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation, called the selection of Baku an important milestone for the country.

"Being chosen as the starting point of the 2026 Swimming World Cup is a landmark step for the development of aquatic sports in Azerbaijan. Over the past decade, the Aquatics Palace has hosted a series of major international competitions, and hosting a World Aquatics tournament for the first time takes our ambitions to a new level. We look forward to welcoming the world’s top swimmers to Azerbaijan, inspiring the next generation of athletes, and strengthening our partnership with World Aquatics," he said.

By Khagan Isayev