Tashkent is preparing to make history with the World Swimming Championships, with 50 days remaining until it hosts the second leg of the 2026 World Aquatics Championships tour, scheduled for October 8-10, marking the first time this global event has been held in Uzbekistan.
The championship is expected to attract more than 750 swimmers representing over 50 national federations, competing for a total prize purse of US$1.2 million, in addition to bonuses for breaking world records and achieving a "Triple Crown" victory across all three stops.
The Tashkent competition is part of the Silk Road Tour, which includes Baku, Tashkent, and Astana, and represents a crucial competitive stage for swimmers preparing for the 18th FINA World Championships (25m) in Beijing.
Tashkent, historically a prominent stop on the Silk Road, is returning to the forefront of global aquatic sports after successfully hosting the FINA Artistic Swimming World Cup in 2017 and 2018. Hosting the World Cup marks another milestone in the Uzbek capital's growing reputation for organizing major international sporting events.
Husain Al-Musallam, President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), said: “Holding the Swimming World Cup in Uzbekistan for the first time ever is a very important and exciting milestone for FINA. The combination of world-class facilities and warm hospitality will ensure a fantastic experience for athletes both in and out of the pool, and the Silk Road Tour is a great opportunity to inspire an entire new generation of young swimmers across Central Asia.”
Organizers are putting the finishing touches on the state-of-the-art Aquatics Palace in the Olympic City, as excitement and anticipation build in the Uzbek capital ahead of the event.
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