The International Swimming League is gearing up for a potential return as early as 2026 after a three-year hiatus. With a revamped business model, solid financial backing, and the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a catalyst, the league aims to sustain a global team-based competition in the sport of swimming. Initially launched in 2019, the ISL aimed to engage swimming enthusiasts post-Olympics by establishing a season-long league with regular meets featuring top stars like Caeleb Dressel, Adam Peaty, and Katinka Hosszu.
Following its last season in 2021, the ISL faced challenges due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and issues involving its primary supporter, Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin. Commissioner Ben Allen expressed enthusiasm for the league’s comeback, targeting an autumn 2026 relaunch, with 2027 as a backup plan. The new model aims to reduce dependency on a single investor and focus more on sponsorships and media partnerships.
The anticipated comeback season is set to include seven matches across North America and Europe, with possible stops in Asia and the Middle East. The United States, described as a key market for the ISL, is expected to host events, building on past successes like the 2019 final held in Las Vegas. The league has utilized the break to enhance its format based on feedback from various stakeholders to enhance the viewer experience.
In preparation for its relaunch, the ISL is exploring potential changes to its event structure, considering a shift to a one-day format to accommodate fans and broadcasters more effectively. The league’s return coincides with the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, offering an opportunity to extend the sport’s appeal beyond the Olympic period and provide athletes with a consistent platform to enhance their public profiles. Emphasizing entertainment value, the ISL aims to maintain a high-energy atmosphere during its meets, with a focus on creating engaging and closely contested competitions.
Despite legal disputes involving World Aquatics, the governing body for swimming, the ISL remains committed to its return plans. The league is moving forward independently of these legal challenges, with World Aquatics having settled a $4.6 million lawsuit with professional swimmers, enabling them to participate in the ISL without jeopardizing their Olympic eligibility. World Aquatics denied any wrongdoing in the settlement, which did not affect a separate ongoing lawsuit filed by the ISL against the governing body in 2018.
