Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships will be held in Santa Fe, Argentina, from 3 to 6 September 2026, drawing a record number of junior participants.
This edition matches the record of 39 National Federations, previously set at Alghero 2024, and features 273 athletes—the highest in the event's history—highlighting the sport's growth at the junior level.
Olympic and World Champion Ferry Weertman emphasized that the Championships are a key development opportunity for young swimmers, with many competitors expected to reach elite levels. He also noted the value of building lasting friendships and experiences, regardless of athletes' future careers.
Historically, the Championships have launched athletes who later secured Olympic and World titles. Notable examples include Kristóf Rasovszky, Olympic gold medalist in the Men's 10km at Paris 2024, and Dávid Betlehem, an Olympic bronze medalist and World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup winner.
Other past junior champions, such as Sacha Velly of France and Paulo Strehlke of Mexico, have also medaled in the Open Water Swimming World Cup series. On the women's side, Katie Grimes from the United States moved from junior titles to Olympic silver and World Aquatics medals.