World Aquatics announces prize money structure for Beijing 2026

World Aquatics announced on Wednesday the prize money structure for the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing, with a total prize pool of at least 2.025 million U.S. dollars.

The championships will be held from December 1 to 6. Prize money will be distributed equally between men and women across individual and relay events, with swimmers and relay teams finishing from first to eighth eligible for awards.

Winners of each individual and relay event will receive 10,000 U.S. dollars, while silver medalists will earn 8,000 dollars and eighth-place finishers 2,000 dollars.

Swimmers who set a world record during the championships will receive an additional 25,000 dollars on top of their placing prize money.

World Aquatics will also offer a 15,000-dollar bonus to swimmers who win the same event at all three stops of the 2026 Swimming World Cup Silk Road Tour and at the Beijing championships, up from the previous 10,000-dollar bonus.

World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said the prize pool reflected the federation's continued investment in athletes.

"We want every swimmer stepping onto the blocks in Beijing to know their performance will be properly rewarded," he said.