Swimming World Cup 2026: three Silk Road stops in Myrtha pools

The 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup kicks off in Baku, a gateway city on the western edge of the Silk Road along the Caspian Sea. The first stop will take place at the same aquatic center that hosted the inaugural European Games in 2015. From October 1–3, the Azerbaijani capital will host the opening event of the three-stop tour, followed by Tashkent (October 8–10) and Astana (October 15–17). All three events will be held in Myrtha pools.

For Azerbaijan, the event marks another first: it will be the country’s first time hosting a World Aquatics event.

At least 180 athletes from 37 countries are expected in Baku. The program includes 34 events, the same number scheduled for the next stop in Tashkent.

The Baku Aquatic Palace has a history with Myrtha. Its three indoor pools were installed in the mid-2010s: a competition pool, a diving pool and a warm-up pool with a movable wall. Ahead of the World Cup, the facility has been updated to meet the requirements for short-course competition. The most visible change is in the competition pool. A new Myrtha movable bulkhead allows it to be configured for 25 m racing.

Myrtha has also renovated the floors of all three pools with R-Evolution, a membrane made with 60% recycled material that is fully recyclable at the end of its life. The original mosaic targets have been replaced with Myrtha Skin, and the lane markings have been refreshed.

The renovation has extended the life of the existing facility, preserved its performance and given it greater flexibility through the new bulkhead.

Swimmers will race in Myrtha pools at every stop, from Baku to Tashkent and Astana. Myrtha Pools has been a World Aquatics partner since 2009, and its pools have provided the setting for 197 swimming world records. Will the Silk Road Tour bring that total to 200?