With a number of changes to international swimming events, Swimming Canada is adjusting its competition calendar.
For 2026, the new Commonwealth Games dates fall between the July trials and the Pan Pacific Championships in August. In addition, the open water junior world championships are expected to be announced for late August/early September and there are challenges and uncertainty around the Paralympic Program schedule as well.
“Swimming Canada established the ‘Canadian Way’ for the Canadian domestic competition program for 2025 to 2028 based on the information that was available. There have been a number of changes to championships and Games planned internationally that have an impact on the domestic calendar and the plans we have in place. These changes will impact attendance and capacity at our events,” said High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson.
After listening to feedback from the swimming community in light of the additional scheduling information, Swimming Canada will not conduct the Speedo Canadian Short Course (25m) Championships in 2026 (previously scheduled for Aug. 21-24, 2026), nor the Canadian Open Water Festival.
“The national short course championships provided a later summer racing opportunity in Canada and served as a qualifying opportunity for the upcoming World Aquatics Swimming World Cup while the Open Water Festival aimed to combine a high-level open water racing opportunity in the summer with a mass participation event,” Atkinson said.
“Attendance at both events this year was below our expectations, and we heard a variety of reasons from our community. Some swimmers and coaches chose to prioritize rest over an additional racing opportunity. Many college and university athletes need to return to school in August. The late August timeframe also creates challenges for local organizers with family vacation time and volunteer fatigue,” said Swimming Canada CEO Suzanne Paulins. “With an even busier competition schedule next year, these factors will be present again if not greater. We feel it is best to make an early decision to lighten the calendar so all can adjust ahead of time.”
The 2026 national/international summer calendar now looks like this:
- Canadian Swimming Trials, Montreal, July 5-9
- Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland, Tour July 20–30 (Competition 24-29)
- Pan Pacific Championships open water, Irvine, Calif., Tour Aug. 6-11 (Competition Aug. 10)
- Pan Pacific Championships pool, Irvine, Calif., Tour Aug. 7–16 (Competition Aug. 12-15)
- Junior Pan Pacific Championships, Vancouver, Tour Aug. 13–21 (Competition Aug. 17–20)
- Open Water Junior World Championships, Venue TBC, Dates late Aug./early Sept.
In addition to the changes already announced to the 2027 calendar (LINK: https://www.swimming.ca/blog/revamped-2027-calendar-will-accommodate-changes-to-pan-am-games/)
Swimming Canada has made the further decision to not run the short course championships in 2027.
The 2027 national/international summer now likes like this:
- Canadian Swimming Trials, Victoria, July 5-9
- World Championships open water, Budapest, HUN, Tour June 20-July 3 TBC (Competition TBC)
- World Championships pool, Budapest, HUN, Tour June 29–July 19 TBC (Competition July 10-18 TBC)
- Pan American Games Lima, Peru, July 16-Aug. 1 (Tour/competition dates for open water/pool TBC
- FISU Games, Chungcheong, Korea, Tour July 27-Aug. 8 TBC (Competition Aug. 1-7 TBC)
- World Junior Championships, Venue TBC, Aug. dates TBC
Swimming Canada is looking at moving forward with a return to a Canadian long-course championships, including age group championships in the last week of July for 2027 and 2028. An open water opportunity may be combined with this event and/or provincial event(s).
Swimming Canada announced the “Canadian Way” in May 2023 after an eight-month consultation process with national team athletes, carded coaches, provincial section leaders, technical experts and high performance and sport science staff. The major changes included moving to a later Trials, and the addition of the Speedo Short Course Championships and Open Water Festival.
“Two years ago, we announced changes to the Canadian model and stated that if we continue to do what we have always done we will not develop at the rate we need to,” Atkinson said. “I am sure the plan we had was solid, but we must listen to what’s being said, buy in and consider all the other events now being placed in the calendar. The ‘Canadian Way’ is a strategy that adapts to best fit the needs and requirements of our swimming community.”
Canadian Open and Trials remain as planned, while evaluation will be ongoing for the next quad following LA 2028. Development of a strong provincial competition network continues alongside the adjusted plan.