National Federation bidding process opens for the 2029 and 2031 editions of the World Aquatics Championships
National Federations with an eye on holding the world’s greatest aquatics event still have time to signal their interest in hosting either the 2029 or 2031 editions of the World Aquatics Championships.
The World Aquatics Championships bring together 2,500 athletes from over 190 countries as they compete across six sports – swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving – for a prize money purse of around USD 6 million.
The World Aquatics Championships Attract a Significant Global Audience
The world’s greatest aquatics competition and the most universal sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games in terms of competitors and nations, these championships generate significant exposure for the host city and country. Highlights from recent editions include 200,000 tickets sold, a highly tuned-in viewing audience of all ages in over 200 territories that also has fans watching 500 million digital video views and a social media reach of over 3.5 billion.
World Aquatics Masters Championships | Promoting Fitness, Friendship & Competition
The associated World Aquatics Masters Championships is a standalone five-sport event in its own right that sees up to 10,000 registered participants. Often held one week after the elite event, these championships generate around USD 3 million in registration and entry fees for the host, and have recorded over 50,000 attending friends, family and coaches – all adding significant positive economic impact for event hosts.
Championships Legacy | A Catalyst Driving Participation in Aquatic Sports in the Lead-Up To and Post-Event
Holding the World Aquatics Championships presents an opportunity that goes beyond having the top global aquatic sports event to further enhance a city’s and country’s reputation as a renowned global sports host. Having the World Aquatics Championships provides a unique platform for the city, region and nation to encourage exercise, improve health and save lives by teaching children and adults to swim, engaging the whole country around the benefits of aquatic sports.
From Bid to Award – Stage One Underway | NF Expression of Interest Open Until 25 September 2023
World Aquatics opened the invitation to National Federations to participate in the Bid Process for the 2029 and 2031 World Aquatics Championships on 5 September 2023. National Federations have until 25 September 2023 to submit an Expression of Interest to World Aquatics.
World Aquatics will provide further details upon receipt of Hosts’ Expressions of Interest and full technical requirements by 31 October 2023, in accordance with the Bid Milestones.
As never before, we will partner with hosts to drive far-reaching social, health sustainability and tourism benefits, said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. "We are excited and we are ready to embrace the new era with you.”
Hosting City History | World Aquatics Championships
• 1973 Belgrade (YUG)
• 1975 Cali (COL)
• 1978 Berlin (GER)
• 1982 Guayaquil (ECU)
• 1986 Madrid (ESP)
• 1991 Perth (AUS)
• 1994 Rome (ITA)
• 1998 Perth (AUS)
• 2001 Fukuoka (JPN)
• 2003 Barcelona (ESP)
• 2005 Montréal (CAN)
• 2007 Melbourne (AUS)
• 2009 Rome (ITA)
• 2011 Shanghai (CHN)
• 2013 Barcelona (ESP)
• 2015 Kazan (RUS)
• 2017 Budapest (HUN)
• 2019 Gwangju (KOR)
• 2022 Budapest (HUN)
• 2023 Fukuoka (JPN)
• 2024 Doha (QAT)*
• 2025 Singapore (SGP)*
• 2027 Budapest (HUN)*
*Future attributed editions of the World Aquatics Championships