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The 2026 Chicago River Swim was canceled Sunday, September 20, after organizers determined that weather and river conditions were not safe enough for the event to proceed.
The Chicago River Swim organization announced the cancellation early Sunday morning after monitoring weather and river conditions overnight. Organizers said the safety of athletes, volunteers, staff and other participants was the priority.
The Brief
The open-water swimming event had been scheduled for Sunday along the Chicago River, with participants expected to compete in one-mile and two-mile courses through downtown Chicago.
Organizers said the decision followed overnight weather conditions that created concerns about whether the event could safely take place. Participants were instructed not to report to the event start area.
The official cancellation notice said organizers had monitored conditions throughout the night before making the decision.
What We Know
The event was scheduled to begin with an opening ceremony at 6:30 a.m., followed by the two-mile swim at 7 a.m. and the one-mile swim at 8:15 a.m. The planned course was located along an approximately 800-meter section of the Chicago River between Wolf Point and the State Street Bridge.
The cancellation FAQs state that heavy rain or other environmental conditions can lead to cancellation when conditions are not suitable for swimming. The organizers' water-quality plan also relies on testing to assess whether river conditions are appropriate for the event.
Participants will be deferred to the 2027 Chicago River Swim, according to the event's official cancellation information. Organizers said funds already raised will remain with the event's official charity partners rather than being refunded.
Despite the cancellation, participants were invited to gather at the Chicago Brewhouse for the planned post-event community celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
What’s Next
Organizers said additional information about the cancellation and next steps would be provided in the coming days.
The cancellation FAQs confirm that registrants will be deferred to the 2027 event and will receive confirmation of that deferral. The organization has not yet published a new 2027 race date on its official cancellation information.
The 2026 Chicago River Swim will therefore not take place as scheduled, ending preparations for the inaugural downtown open-water event before swimmers entered the river.
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