Wa Gears Up For Australian Open Water Championships And Oceanswim Festival In 2026 And 2028

Published on September 9, 2025

Western Australia is group to invited backmost 2 of nan nation’s astir salient unfastened h2o swimming events, nan Australian Open Water Championships and OceanSwim Festival, successful 2026 and 2028. Hundreds of elite athletes and organization swimmers will return to WA’s waters erstwhile again, drafting spectators from crossed nan state and boosting nan South West region’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

The 2026 version of nan events is scheduled to return spot from January 22 to 25 successful Bunbury, providing a caller and breathtaking mounting for competitors. The show is Australia’s premier yearly ceremony of unfastened h2o swimming, combining nationalist championships pinch organization information events that entreaty to a wide scope of swimmers.

A Festival of Swimming and Community Engagement

The four-day show will characteristic some nan Open and Junior National Championships alongside events designed to prosecute section swimmers and families. Competitors will title crossed distances including 10km, 7.5km, 5km, and relay events, pinch a organization aquatics offering opportunities for section participation. These events service arsenic milestones connected nan qualification pathway to world competitions specified arsenic nan Pan Pacific Championships successful California.

Bunbury’s Koombana Bay will big nan 2026 festival, providing a scenic backdrop for athletes and visitors. The South West region has antecedently hosted nan events astatine nan iconic Busselton Jetty from 2023 to 2025. The continuation of these events successful WA reflects nan state’s increasing estimation arsenic a starring destination for sports tourism and outdoor recreational activities.

Economic Impact and Tourism Boost

The return of nan Australian Open Water Championships and OceanSwim Festival is expected to pull thousands of visitors to nan South West region, generating important economical benefits for section businesses. Previous editions of nan events person drawn complete 2,100 visitors and contributed much than $2.1 cardinal to nan location economy. Hospitality businesses, tourism operators, and section work providers are anticipated to use from nan influx of participants and spectators.

Channel 9’s broadcast of nan championships has besides highlighted WA’s pristine coastline to a nationalist assemblage of complete 150,000 people, promoting nan authorities arsenic a world-class destination for some athletics and tourism. The events align pinch nan Cook Government’s economical diversification strategy, designed to thrust out-of-State visitation, make tourism dollars, and support section employment.

Government and Industry Support

The events are proudly supported by nan Cook Government done Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program. Hosting is led by Swimming Australia pinch assistance from Swimming WA, while nan City of Bunbury provides further section support. Government ministers person emphasized nan domiciled of these events successful promoting nan state’s economy, sports programs, and location improvement initiatives.

Tourism Minister Reece Whitby has highlighted nan value of wide information events for illustration nan Australian Open Water Championships and OceanSwim Festival successful attracting visitors, boosting section businesses, and enhancing nan floor plan of WA’s coastline. Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti has noted nan beardown return connected finance that these events deliver, supporting semipermanent sustainability successful athletics and tourism industries. Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson has pointed retired nan expertise of nan Regional Events Program to diversify section economies and create jobs, while South West Minister Don Punch has emphasized Bunbury’s entreaty arsenic a big metropolis and its benefits to nan section community.

Legacy and Regional Significance

With nan summation of Bunbury to nan database of big locations, nan events will proceed to blend competitory athletics pinch tourism and organization engagement. Central to nan events’ entreaty is their expertise to showcase WA’s stunning beaches and coastline, while providing world-class competitory opportunities for swimmers of each ages and accomplishment levels.

The 2028 version of nan events is scheduled from January 19 to 22, pinch nan location wrong nan South West region yet to beryllium announced. This ensures that WA continues to clasp a salient spot connected nan nationalist sports tourism map, encouraging some elite athletes and recreational participants to acquisition nan state’s earthy beauty while contributing to section economical growth.

As nan Australian Open Water Championships and OceanSwim Festival hole for their adjacent iterations, WA’s South West is group to use from continued nickname arsenic a starring destination for sports events, tourism, and organization engagement.

Conclusion

The return of these events underlines nan synergy betwixt competitory athletics and location tourism development. By attracting athletes and visitors from crossed Australia, these swimming festivals support section businesses, create jobs, and item WA’s earthy coastal assets. The ongoing business betwixt Swimming Australia, Swimming WA, section councils, and nan Cook Government ensures that WA remains a move and appealing destination for some elite athletics and recreational tourism.