Date: September 20, 2026
WAITLIST OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE
As of Monday, May 11, selected and qualified applicants have being notified of thier selection.
Applicants who were not initially selected have been placed on the event Waitlist. As selectees may forgo their spots for various reasons, a rolling process will continue to invite Waitlisted indiviuals throughout the summer. Learn more below.
KAYAK WITH US: JUNE 30 @ 11AM
Grab a friend and join us at Urban Kayaks for a 1-hour tour of the swim course. Get a preview of the athlete experience, learn about Urban Kayaks' event support, and network with fellow swimmers: Tuesday, June 30 @ 11 AM. Capacity is limited to 30 paddlers. Tickets are $40. Stick around for tacos and/or adult beverages. RSVP below.
2025 Event Recap
2025 Event Impact
See the metrics behind the inaugural Chicago River Swim
2025 Media Coverage
Witness what 3 billion media impressions looks like!
2025 Participant Results
Search the list of award winners and participants alike
2025 Event Photos
View the Chicago River Swim for yourself
2025 CHICAGO RIVER SWIM HYPE VIDEO
HOW'S THE WATER QUALITY?
Have a look at the most recent qPCR water quality results by location within the Swim Course (along each bridge).
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Applications for CRS have formally closed, although a handful of post-close entries are available to select individuals. Click below to learn more.
THE SWIM COURSE
From Marina Towers to the Wolf Point confluence, check out the swim course that will make history this September.
— 100 YEARS AGO
RIVER SWIMS WERE THE BEES KNEES
The Chicago River's flow was reversed nearly 125 years ago to draw fresh water from Lake Michigan and clean a polluted river.
To celebrate the waterway's drastic turnaround, the Illinois Athletic Association began hosting a series of open water swims back in 1908.
The river swims attracted the highest-profile swimmers in the world, and more than 100,000 spectators lined the shore. The Chicago River Swims were a jewel in the crown of our young, vibrant city.
Proud Partners
