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The International Swimming League (ISL) is set for a significant comeback, with plans to restart in early 2026 after a three-year absence.
The professional swimming competition aims to take advantage of a revised business strategy, stronger financial backing and the anticipated buzz surrounding it. 2028 los angeles olympics To establish a permanent global, team-based league.
First established in 2019, the ISL sought to maintain fan involvement in swimming olympic cycle By offering a season-long competition.
It has previously attracted some of the sport’s most prominent personalities, including Caleb Dressel, Adam Peaty and Katinka Hosszu.
The league last held a season in 2021 before ceasing operations, a decision influenced by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the war in Ukraine on its primary financial backer, Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin.
Despite the challenges, Commissioner Ben Allen confirmed the imminent return of the league.
“The ISL is coming back,” he told Reuters, “and we’re really excited about the prospect of relaunching.”
Allen indicated an “ideal scenario” for a return in autumn 2026, with 2027 serving as a firm backup target.
The new operating model is designed to reduce reliance on a single investor, instead prioritizing a broader base of sponsorships and media partnerships.
According to Allen, the planned return season will feature seven matches, distributed throughout North America and Europe, with at least one event scheduled for Asia and a possible stop in the Middle East.
The United States, known as the ISL’s biggest market, is expected to host a number of events reminiscent of previous fixtures such as the 2019 final in Las Vegas, where a temporary pool was constructed within the Mandalay Bay area.
During its hiatus, the league has refined its format based on feedback from athletes, coaches, broadcasters and fans, aiming to enhance the televised spectacle.
This includes considering changes to its event schedule; The ISL, which previously ran for two days, is now exploring a one-day format to improve accessibility for traveling fans and broadcasters.
“We’re going to do some experiments and testing over the next few months to find out,” Allen said.
The planned resurgence of the league has been strategically timed to coincide with the build-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Allen believes this presents an important opportunity to broaden swimming’s appeal beyond the Olympic spotlight and provide athletes with a more consistent professional platform to raise their public profiles.
The ISL aims to ensure that swimmers remain visible throughout the Olympic cycle, thereby countering the tendency for many athletes to withdraw from the public’s attention only a few months after the Games.
The main principle of ISL is to emphasize entertainment. Allen described the ISL meet as a high-octane production, complete with pool side staging, dynamic graphics, laser displays and a DJ, designed to minimize downtime between races.
He highlighted the 2019 and 2021 seasons, where the overall title was decided in the final race, as evidence of the league’s commitment to creating compelling, narrative-driven competitions.
Addressing ongoing legal disputes with swimming’s global governing body, World Aquatics, Allen reaffirmed the league’s determination to move forward regardless of the outcome.
When asked whether this legal battle would create any disruption, he replied, “Simply put, no.”
This follows a $4.6 million settlement agreed by World Aquatics with professional swimmers in September, which allowed their participation in the ISL without jeopardizing their eligibility for the Olympics.
While World Aquatics has denied any wrongdoing in the settlement of the 2018 lawsuit, a related lawsuit filed by the ISL against the governing body the same year remains ongoing.