Winter Swimming World Championships – Oulu Finland 3-8 March 2026
A unique winter sports event will be organized in Oulu in March 2026 when a special 25 m x 25 m competition swimming pool will be built on the ice of the Oulujoki estuary on the shore of Raatti.
The program of the Championship consists of speed competitions in 15 different swimming disciplines. More than 2,000 participants from 45 different countries are expected to join the event.
The real internationalization of competitive winter swimming has started in Oulu, with the World Championships organized in 2006. The International Winter Swimming Association, which is the organizer of the event was founded just inspired by the Oulu 2006 Championship.
During the last 19 years, competitive winter swimming has developed worldwide. International competitions are held on every continent, with the latest countries including Argentina and Morocco. In addition to the Nordic countries, the sport is particularly popular in the Baltic countries, the UK, Germany and the USA. It is estimated that there are over 500,000 winter swimming enthusiasts in Finland.
Next year, Oulu, as the European Capital of Culture, will offer a unique winter environment for the World Championships. In addition, the World Winter Swimming Championships will bring a much-needed sporting event to the programme of the Capital of Culture year.
The popularity of the sport as a healthy lifestyle has grown exponentially over the past five years around the world in all age groups. The health effects of the sport are undeniable. The positive effects of the sport on mental health have also been noted and are still being studied.
The sport is very ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, all you need is cold water.
The World Championships are contested in 15 different age groups, making it a truly democratic sport and allowing participation by people of all ages. The oldest participants are over 85 years old and the youngest are 10-12 years old. The competitions also include a series for para-athletes, whose participation in the competitions is increasing every year.
Finns have traditionally been very successful at the Winter Swimming World Championships.
We have numerous world champions in different age groups.
The week-long event is open to all Oulu residents, and there is no entrance fee for the public. With a low threshold and a small (5-10 €) entry fee, you can also try out the sport and swim in the World Swimming Pool.
An international seminar on the health effects of winter swimming and research on cold weather will also be organized in connection with the Oulu Wolrd Championship.
The WORLD’S LARGEST ICE SAUNA will also be completed for the Event.
Further information:
International Winter Swimming Association
www.iwsa.me
Mariia Yrjö-Koskinen, Chairman
+358 40 8249326, mariia.yk@hongisto.fi
