London will stage the final leg of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup on 29-31 October 2027 where athletes can qualify for the LA 2028 Games in the men’s 50m breaststroke and women’s 50m backstroke.
The meet will take place at the London Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and marks the first benchmark global swimming competition will be held in Great Britain since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 2016 European Championships were also staged at the pool in Stratford, east London.
The London event will be preceded by meets in Berlin on 15-17 October, and Paris on 22-24 October, bringing the competition back to Europe for the first time since 2023, and staged across three acclaimed Olympic host cities. It offers the incentive of direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
A total of six events at the World Cup will provide an opportunity for qualification, all at the 50m distance that will make its debut in 2028 with the backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly disciplines joining the freestyle which was first contested at Seoul 1988.
With the men’s 50 breaststroke qualification a possibility in the British capital, it offers the prospect of world record holder Adam Ramsay-Peaty rubber-stamping a trip to his fourth Games in front of a home crowd in the same pool in which he set his first WR over 100m in April 2015 where he became the first man inside 58secs in 57.92.
The women’s 50 back could feature the likes of world record-holder Sara Curtis with Lauren Cox set for home support among Europeans although it’s unclear as yet as to which non-European athletes will travel for the event.
Qualification for the men’s 50 back and women’s 50 fly – featuring Sarah Sjöström – will be decided at Stop 1 in Berlin where the meet will be staged in the SSE Swimming Hall.
The men’s 50 fly and women’s 50 breast will be decided at Stop 2 in Paris with Maxime Grousset set to hear the roar of the home crowd at the Olympic Aquatic Centre which hosted the European Championships in August.
To determine the athletes that will be advancing to LA2028 at each stop, prelims will be held on the morning of day one, followed by quarter-finals that evening. Semi-finals will take place during the evening sessions of day two, before the third and final day of each stop will stage eight-lane finals, where the top six finishers will secure their spot at the Games.
Reflecting on the announcement, World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam, said: “We are delighted to announce Berlin, Paris and London as the host cities for this landmark edition of the Swimming World Cup. Each city has an outstanding sporting pedigree and a proud history of staging spectacular aquatics events as part of previous Olympic Games.
“The Swimming World Cup has a celebrated tradition of delivering drama, entertainment and excitement, showcasing the world’s fastest swimmers on the global stage. Following the success of this year’s Silk Road Tour, the added incentive of LA28 Olympic qualification makes the 2027 edition particularly compelling, and we cannot wait to see the world’s best swimmers in action across these three iconic venues.”
Karen Webb Moss, Chair of Aquatics GB, added: “Great Britain has a proud history of hosting some of the most memorable events in the sport. We are thrilled to welcome the Swimming World Cup and top-class international swimming back to the London Aquatics Centre. This competition has consistently delivered world-class performances, compelling rivalries and unforgettable moments for fans. We are excited to be part of this next chapter in its history, with the prospect of LA28 Olympic qualification adding another compelling dimension to what promises to be a fantastic finale to the 2027 series.”
Esther Britten MBE, Head of Events and External Affairs at UK Sport, said: “The return of a major international swimming event to the UK is great news for the sport and for fans. We’re delighted to have supported Aquatics GB and partners in securing the Swimming World Cup for London, adding another world-class event to the UK’s sporting calendar.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our athletes to compete for Olympic qualification in front of a home crowd just a year out from LA 2028, while giving fans the chance to see the world’s best swimmers up close. We’re looking forward to welcoming athletes and supporters from around the world to what promises to be a brilliant event.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is the sporting capital of the world, and I’m delighted we’ll be hosting the final leg of the prestigious World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. This landmark event brings elite global swimming back to the London Aquatics Centre, evoking memories of the London 2012 Olympic Games and proving once again that the legacy of our Olympic infrastructure continues to deliver for our city. Hosting world-leading sporting events is an important part of our work to boost the capital’s economy and to build a better and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Mark Camley, Executive Director of Estate and Neighbourhoods, London Legacy Development Corporation, commented: “For many young people who were too young to experience the 2012 Games, seeing Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park once again in the global spotlight can be a source of inspiration. It’s fantastic to welcome the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup to the London Aquatics Centre, with athletes competing for places at LA28 in a venue that continues to embody the lasting legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Mark Basker, Regional Contract Manager for Everyone Active – the London Aquatics Centre venue operator, added: “London Aquatics Centre is one of the world’s most recognisable swimming venues, and we are delighted it will host the final leg of the 2027 Swimming World Cup. Our team at the centre has extensive experience of delivering a first-class experience for athletes, officials and spectators, and we are looking forward to working closely with Aquatics GB and World Aquatics to make this a standout finale to the series. With Olympic qualification on the line, the atmosphere is going to be incredible.”
