After a three-year-long hiatus, the International Swimming League (ISL) is set to return in 2026. The league’s return is about more than just swimming; it will demonstrate how professional sports rely on various occupations beyond sporting events, creating opportunities that students may not be aware of.
The ISL was established in 2019 with the aim of giving swimming a regular seasonal timeline and maintaining fan interest in-between four-year Olympic cycles. Some of the best competitors in swimming such as Adam Peaty, Katinka Hosszú, and Caeleb Dressel were once a part of the league.
The last season of the ISL took place in 2021 before it was shut down because of a few issues, some of which included the league’s main financial supporter, Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin, being impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting all international sport.
ISL organisers were able to analyse the comments from the athletes, coaches, commentators, and fans during the league’s hiatus. In an attempt to enhance the viewing experience and make travel easier, one possible change is to move away from a two-day tournament towards a single day of events.
According to ISL CEO Rob Allen, the league’s return is expected to consist of seven games in North America and Europe, with at least one stop in Asia and possibly an event in the Middle East.
The ISL expects its comeback to help broaden the sport’s audience and give swimmers a solid, professional platform outside of the Olympic cycle as the sport becomes more popular. This marks an exciting new chapter for swimming as the anticipation for the 2028 Olympic Games grows.
