Chicago River Swim Expands to 750 Swimmers for 2026 Event

Chicago River Swim, a charitable open-water event organized by the City of Chicago and Mayor Brandon Johnson, is set to return on September 18-20, 2026, with an expanded field of 750 swimmers. The event, which aims to celebrate the river's transformation and raise funds for ALS research and youth swim education, will kick off with the inaugural Big Jump on September 18.

This year, the Big Jump will offer a rare, sanctioned opportunity for members of the public to enter the Chicago River, raising $500 per participant. Mayor Johnson will serve as master of ceremonies, joined by Olympians, Paralympians, and notable Chicagoans, including Bears legend Charles Tillman and Grammy Award-winning producer and DJ White Shadow. The event will support ALS research and promote youth swim education, reflecting the city's commitment to making the river a safe and accessible recreational space.

Chicago River Swim, launched in 2025, marked the first organized open-water swim in the Chicago River in 98 years. The event brought 263 swimmers into the river and attracted international attention, highlighting the city's transformed waterway. This year, the expanded field of 750 swimmers will participate in either the one- or two-mile events, with the Swim taking place on September 20.

Olympians and Paralympians from the United States and abroad will participate in the event. Maritza Correia McClendon, the first Black American woman to make a U.S. Olympic swim team, will participate in both events on behalf of the USA Swimming Foundation. She will highlight the Foundation's partnership with the Chicago River Swim and their shared commitment to expanding access to lifesaving swim lessons and water safety education.

Three-time U.S. Olympian and Olympic gold medalist Blake Pieroni will compete in the one-mile event. Additionally, Dutch Olympic gold medalist Maarten van der Weijden and Mexican Olympic swimmer Jorge Andrés Iga César will represent their countries in The Big Jump. Paralympic athletes, including two-time U.S. Paralympian Ahalya Lettenberger and Paralympic silver medalist Grace Nuhfer, will also participate.

The event will also welcome international civic leadership, such as Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron, who will participate in Chicago River Swim weekend. This participation underscores the importance of rivers as shared civic assets and highlights the city's leadership in restoring the river and expanding safe public access.

On September 20, ABC7 Chicago will livestream the Swim from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m., showcasing swimmers participating in one- and two-mile events along the main stem of the Chicago River. The broadcast will feature interviews with athletes, civic leaders, and other special guests, providing a comprehensive view of the event's significance.

The Chicago River Swim raises funds for ALS research through A Long Swim and supports swim instruction and water safety education for children in underserved Chicago communities. Since its launch, the event has raised over $3.5 million for ALS research. The weekend will also create a powerful moment for the ALS community, as swimmer Paul Sommer will pull Jeff Birkels, who is living with ALS, on a raft for the entire two-mile course, offering him a unique experience alongside the swimmers supporting the fight against the disease.

The event's success reflects the City of Chicago's leadership in restoring the river and expanding safe public access to its waterways. The Chicago River Swim presents a growing civic tradition, celebrating decades of environmental investment, policy leadership, and community effort that have made the river safe for human contact and renewed public use.