Slovakia and Austria offer historic first joint-hosting of European Aquatics Masters Championships 2026 – information bulletin available
The European Aquatics Masters Championships 2026 will take the historic form of a cross-border celebration jointly hosted by Slovakia and Austria.
The announcement of this innovative new format was made today at a press conference in Vienna attended by by European Aquatics President Antonio Silva and Arno Pajek, President of the Austrian Swimming Federation (OSV).
The landmark collaboration from August 21 to 30 will see swimming, artistic swimming and open water swimming take place at Slovakia’s Olympic training centre in Samorin, while diving will be staged at the Auster Sport- und Wellnessbad Graz.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to be in Vienna today and I want to thank my Bureau colleague Arno Pajek, as well as my friends from the Austrian federation and the X-Bionic Sphere in Slovakia for their great efforts in making this dream come true,” President Silva said.
“Next year, for the first time in history we will be able to celebrate the best of European Masters competition in two countries. We are excited about the possibility to have a record number of competing athletes since we are able to announce the event so soon.
“We look forward to working closely together to promote this exciting competition and to offer something unique to our masters’ community.”
This first joint hosting of the European Masters Championships – which brings together two outstanding venues offering a unique combination of world-class sports infrastructure, premium athlete services and a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere – will showcase the strength of partnership and the shared passion for aquatics in Europe.
The 2026 edition – for which the first Information Bulletin is now available – will welcome athletes of all levels, from world-class Masters competitors to those swimming purely for the joy of the sport.
The swimming competition will take place within the x-bionic® sphere which hosted this year’s EA U23 and Junior Swimming Championships with outstanding success.
The resort, set in countryside next to the River Danube, contains an Olympic-standard 50 m outdoor pool and 25 m indoor pool, a two-floor elite fitness & strength gym, recovery & rehabilitation facilities, on-site medical support and diagnostics and Olympic-standard catering and nutrition.
There are also customised participation packages for individuals, families and clubs, special programmes for senior and older-age athletes, kids’ activities and family services. Medical check-ups and health testing are available.
The Auster Sport- und Wellnessbad Graz, set in Styria, the “Green Heart of Austria”, is a modern sports complex renowned for its outstanding facilities and inspiring environment.
It boasts Olympic-standard outdoor diving facilities, a 10-metre diving tower & professional athlete support. It also contains Austria’s only 50 m, 10-lane indoor pool, which has 800 spectator seats.
Beyond the pool, Graz – a UNESCO World Heritage old town – offers everything from culinary excellence to cultural discovery.
The first Information Bulletin – available here: https://europeanaquatics.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SPF_Masters_2026_bulletin_A4.pdf – provides general and preliminary information. More details are coming soon in Bulletin No. 2, including detailed competition schedules, technical information for all disciplines, accommodation reservations and registration guidelines.
Water polo is not part of the current Championship programme. A new initiative specifically designed for water polo players will be introduced shortly.
Join us for the most innovative, inclusive, and athlete-focused edition of the European Masters Championships yet. With two countries, all-in-one elite venues, and a united Masters community, 2026 will set a new benchmark in the history of aquatics.
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
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