2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships Moved to Irvine

One of the bigger international swimming events in 2026, the Pan Pacific Championships, will be held at William Woollett Junior Aquatics Center in Irvine, California.

The event was announced as moving to Southern California from Canada in October 2023 to lay the foundation ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. Canada had been set to host in 2022, but the meet was postponed to 2026 because of the pandemic. The pool competition is set for August 12-15, while the Open Water competition date will be announced later.

“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 Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer 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.”

Canada, which hosted the 2006 championships at the Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria, will now look to host a future edition of the Pan Pacs. The “Pan Pacs,” which are held every four years, rotate among the four charter nations — Australia, Canada, Japan and the U.S. — with high-profile guest competitors with non-European nations invited. The last time the U.S. hosted was in 2018.

The William Woollett Aquatics Center was constructed as part of a renovation to Heritage Park Aquatics Complex in Irvine. The center includes two 50-meter pools and 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.