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

The 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup gets under way in Baku, a gateway city on the western edge of the Silk Road, on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The opening leg takes place at the same aquatic centre that hosted the inaugural European Games in 2015. From 1 to 3 October, the Azerbaijani capital will stage the first of three stops, followed by Tashkent (8–10 October) and Astana (15–17 October). All three competitions 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 to compete in Baku. The programme comprises 34 events, the same number scheduled for the following stop in Tashkent.

The Baku Aquatic Palace already 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 venue has been upgraded to meet the requirements for short-course competition. The most noticeable change is to the competition pool. The installation of a Myrtha movable bulkhead means it can now be set up for 25 m racing.

Below the waterline, Myrtha has refurbished the floors of all three pools using R-Evolution, a membrane containing 60% recycled material and fully recyclable at the end of its life. The original mosaic targets have been replaced with Myrtha Skin, and the lane markings have been renewed.

The refurbishment has extended the life of the existing facility, maintained its performance and increased its flexibility through the new bulkhead.

Across Baku, Tashkent and Astana, swimmers will race in Myrtha pools at every stop. Myrtha Pools has partnered with World Aquatics since 2009, and its pools have provided the setting for 197 swimming world records. Could the Silk Road Tour bring the total to 200?