World Aquatics has announced a five-city schedule across four continents for the 2026 Artistic Swimming World Cup, with the season set to open in Medellin in February and conclude with the Super Final in Toronto in June. Now entering its tenth season, the series will again bring together many of the world’s leading artistic swimmers on a global stage.
The tour begins in Medellin from 13 to 15 February, a landmark debut for Colombia as host of a World Cup leg and only the country’s fourth international aquatics event. The Complejo acuático Atanasio Girardot, recently upgraded for the 2025 PanAm Aquatics Championships, will stage the competition. Colombian star Gustavo Sanchez, the 2024 World Aquatics Male Artistic Swimmer of the Year, described hosting as a dream come true for current athletes and the next generation.
From Colombia, the series moves to Paris from 27 to 29 March, building on momentum from the Paris 2024 Games and France’s long history in aquatics. The event returns to Piscine Georges Vallerey, a venue with Olympic pedigree dating back to 1924. French team member Romane Lunel welcomed the return, highlighting the energy French supporters bring to the stands.
The third stop takes place in Xi’an from 1 to 3 May at the Olympic Sports Centre Natatorium, the site of last season’s Super Final. China has accelerated its rise in the sport, winning its first Olympic medals in artistic swimming at the Paris 2024 Games and collecting recent titles at the World Cup and World Aquatics Championships. Eleven-time world champion Chang Hao said competing at home brings a special motivation and praised the organisation and atmosphere that international athletes have come to expect in China.
Pontevedra hosts the fourth leg from 29 to 31 May, marking Spain’s forty-ninth World Aquatics competition and its eighth Artistic Swimming World Cup. With a strong domestic fan base and a national team rich in talent, Spain is expected to deliver another vibrant event. Four-time world champion Iris Tio Casas recalled the passionate club presence during the 2023 Super Final and looked forward to a similar connection with supporters in Pontevedra.
The season concludes in Toronto from 19 to 21 June at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, a purpose-built complex from the 2015 Pan Am Games. Canada has an extensive record of hosting major aquatics events and is enjoying a resurgence in artistic swimming, punctuated by world titles at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka. Multiple World Cup winner Audrey Lamothe said competing at home remains an immense honour and a source of excitement for 2026.
Across the season, the prize purse totals 570,000 US dollars, with 72,500 US dollars allocated to each of the first four stops and 280,000 US dollars reserved for the Super Final. Athletes must compete in at least 51 per cent of the stops to be eligible for prize money. In addition, the 2026 Artistic Swimming Junior Championships will be held during the year, with the host city to be confirmed.
