2026 Open Water National & Junior National Championships

The 2026 Open Water National and Junior National Championships will take place April 2-4, 2026, at Nathan Benderson Park, bringing elite distance swimmers from across the United States and abroad to compete for national titles. Athletes will race in the 10K, 5K, and the debut of the 3K Knockout event, marking the first time the knockout format is featured at this championship. The competition will include multiple Olympians, World Championship qualifiers, and representatives from foreign federations, further elevating the event’s international prestige. Returning to Sarasota for the fourth consecutive year, in collaboration with the Sarasota Sharks, the national championship is expected to welcome approximately 400 participants and 425 spectators, and will stream live via the USA Swimming Network. Medals will be awarded to the top six men and women in each five-year age group, with age group winners receiving a National Champion patch, as the nation’s top open water swimmers are crowned on Sarasota’s world-class course.