Baku Hosts World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026
The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 is taking place in Baku from October 1 to 3. The Baku Aquatic Palace is hosting 216 swimmers from 44 countries.
Gurban Gurbanzadeh4 min read
The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 is taking place at the Baku Aquatic Palace from October 1 to 3. The competition features 216 swimmers from 44 countries. It is the first World Aquatics event hosted by Azerbaijan and the opening leg of the three-stage Silk Road Tour.
Azerbaijan's national team has entered 15 swimmers, who are competing in the same pool as Olympic medalists, world champions and world-record holders. The host team includes Ramil Valizade, Abdurrahman Rustamov, Said Gamidov, Suleyman Ismailzade, Oktay Huseynov, Farhad Shirmamedli, Ramal Sadigli, Amin Orudjlu, Fatima Alkaramova, Maryam Javadova, Anastasia Boborykina, Anastasia Gnusina, Mehri Abdurrahmanly, Vlastilina Khazyanova and Yegor Mainitsky.
Star-studded field and venue experience
Among the participants are Australia's Cameron McEvoy, the winner of the men's 50 m freestyle at Paris 2024 and the world-record holder in the distance, as well as China's Qin Haiyang, winner of the overall 2023 Swimming World Cup. Baku is also hosting Hong Kong representative Siobhan Haughey, a four-time Olympic medalist, Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen, the women's 100 m freestyle world-record holder, and Poland's Katarzyna Wasick, who is seeking a third consecutive "Triple Crown" in the 50 m freestyle.
The Baku Aquatic Palace has already hosted major international competitions: swimming events at the 2015 European Games and the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games were held here. The World Cup brings a new level of competition to the venue. For local swimmers, the tournament is a rare opportunity to compete against athletes of this level without leaving Azerbaijan.
Silk Road Tour and qualification for Beijing
The 2026 World Cup is being held under the name Silk Road Tour. Baku, Tashkent and Astana are hosting a World Aquatics Swimming World Cup leg for the first time. World Aquatics chose the name as a reference to the historic trade routes linking Europe and Asia. After Baku, the series will continue in Tashkent from October 8 to 10 and conclude in Astana from October 15 to 17.
The three legs are also linked to the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25 m), which will be held in Beijing in December. During the Silk Road Tour, a new qualification opportunity is available: swimmers who finish in the top three in an individual final and achieve the required A standard can receive a wildcard for the Beijing championships. National federations can also enter up to three additional swimmers under this system.
The series has a total prize pool of US$1.2 million. Additional payments of US$10,000 are provided for world records and for swimmers who win the same event at all three legs, in accordance with the World Aquatics series rules. This gives the Baku races significance beyond a single weekend: some athletes are competing for World Cup results, while others are seeking qualification opportunities and preparation ahead of Beijing.
Clinic for young swimmers
The World Cup programme also included a swimming clinic for young athletes. Olympic medalists Carson Foster, Siobhan Haughey and Marrit Steenbergen worked with swimmers aged 11–15 from local sports schools and regional clubs. The session was organised as part of the World Aquatics Athletes' Experience programme.
The Baku leg will conclude on October 3, after which the World Cup will move to Tashkent and then Astana. For Azerbaijan, attention is now focused on the results of its 15 swimmers: races against Olympic medalists and other international competitors provide the team with valuable experience in home waters. While the country has hosted its first World Aquatics event, Baku has opened the 2026 Silk Road Tour.
Source: azernews.az
