Irvine to Serve as Host for 2026 Pan Pacific Championships
USA Swimming, the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, today announced that the world-renowned William Woollett Junior Aquatics Center in Irvine, California, will host the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. The 2026 edition of the meet will include the 10K Open Water Championships and will mark the first time since 2018 that the United States has hosted the competition. The pool competition is set for August 12-15, while the Open Water competition date will be announced later.
The Pan Pacific Championships, held every four years, rotate between the four Pan Pacific Charter Nations: United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. In 2023, the Charter Nations agreed to move the 2026 championships to Southern California to further establish the sport in the region ahead of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Top swimmers from each nation will join high-profile guest competitors from all non-European nations.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the Pan Pacific Championships in 2026 and look forward to welcoming the best of the world to Southern California 16 years after we last hosted PanPacs at this very venue,” said USA Swimming COO and Interim CEO Shana Ferguson. “We extend our gratitude to the City of Irvine and the amazing staff of the Woollett Aquatics Center for having the vision to bring this event to life.”
The William Woollett Aquatics Center was constructed as part of a major renovation to the original Heritage Park Aquatics Complex in Irvine, California. The center includes two 50-meter pools and abundant seating for athletes and fans. The facility also hosted the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships and numerous USA Swimming elite competitions, including the 2005, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 National Championships and the 2005 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. The venue for the Open Water competition will be announced at a later date.
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About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 380,000- member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competitions including the Olympic Games and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.