Kocaeli 2026 reveals WPS European Championships logo

Kocaeli has started to dress for the occasion. The city has unveiled the official logo of this year’s European Championships, the first international World Para Swimming event to take place in Turkiye, scheduled from 7 to 12 September.

The visual identity created by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) highlights Kocaeli’s landscape and history, combining these elements with the dynamism of Para swimming.

The general concept focuses on four aspects:

Wave Forms

The layered waves at the bottom represent water, the core element of swimming. They create a sense of flow and rhythm through their fluid structure, emphasising the pace and continuity of the sport.

Industrial Gear Form 

The segmented structure of the outer frame evokes an industrial gear, reflecting Kocaeli’s strong industrial identity and symbolising movement, production and continuity.

City Representation

The Clock Tower detail references one of Kocaeli’s most iconic landmarks, reinforcing local identity and directly connecting the event to its host city.

Colour and Flow

The use of blue tones represents water and freshness, adding depth through tonal variations and bringing all elements together in a unified visual flow.

🇹🇷 Kocaeli has started to dress for the occasion 🤩

The city has unveiled the official logo of the World Para Swimming European Championships!

Would like to know more about the visual identity of #Kocaeli2026? 👉 Check it out: https://t.co/69ABf8ieqr#Euros2026 #ParaSwimming pic.twitter.com/60WJqHjGqY

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) May 13, 2026

“The design brings together the flow of water at the bottom and the identity of the city and its industry around it to represent a moment of motion within a race, while reflecting the character of the host city in a single composition,” said the Kocaeli 2026 LOC. 

The social media video introducing the logo features two local young stars, Meryem Nur Tunug and Melisa Destan Erbey. A one-time Paralympian, the 17-year-old Tunug will compete in her second Europeans, while 13-year-old Erbey will make her major international event debut at home.

The 2026 European Championships will take place at the Gebze Olympic Swimming Pool and will mark the eighth edition of the competition.

The most recent Euros were held in Madeira, Portugal in 2024. Italy topped the European medal standings with 26 gold and 63 podium finishes. Turkiye claimed two titles and 12 medals in total.