Kocaeli, Turkiye to host WPS European Championships in September

Kocaeli, Turkiye has been announced as the host of the 2026 European Para Swimming Championships. World Para Swimming (WPS) has confirmed that the event will take place from 7 to 12 September at the Gebze Olympic Swimming Pool.

This year’s competition will be eighth edition of the championships and the first to be held in Turkiye. Reykjavik, Iceland staged the inaugural event in 2009. 

The World Para Swimming European Championships Kocaeli 2026 will feature 166 medal events across six days of competition in the city located approximately 100km east of the centre of Istanbul, Turkiye’s largest metropolitan area. 

Kocaeli has emerged as one of Turkiye’s leading sport cities at the gateway between Europe and Asia. The city offers an impressive backdrop where the lush Samanli Mountains meet the expansive coastline of the Marmara Sea.

In the water, hosts Turkiye will be spearheaded by Defne Kurt, the S10 swimmer who claimed five gold medals in her major championships debut at last year’s World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, and by two-time Paralympic champion Umut Unlu (S3 class).

Another star of the host nation is two-time Paralympic medallist Sevillay Ozturk, who will be defending her European title in the women’s 50m butterfly S5.

🇹🇷 Kocaeli confirmed as host for the Euros 2026!

The World Para Swimming European Championships is heading to Turkiye for six action-packed days. Who will we meet there?

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/At0aX1XQgw#Euros2026 #Kocaeli2026 #ParaSwimming pic.twitter.com/3DlrcPbmKp

— Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) April 1, 2026

The list of international stars who are reigning European champions include two Para swimmers nominated for this year’s Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Italy’s Simone Barlaam (S9) and Czechia’s David Kratochvil (S11).

Head of World Para Swimming Craig Nicholson said: “The European Championships is one of the most traditional competitions in our calendar and we are happy to announce that the 2026 edition will also mark the largest single international Para sporting event to be held in Turkiye.

"The World Para Swimming Europeans has long established itself as an event that offers invaluable opportunities for emerging athletes and nations, but also for host cities to promote and advance tangible and intangible changes for persons with disabilities. We look forward to seeing elite athletes compete alongside some of the future stars of Para swimming in Kocaeli.”