The 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships open Wednesday in Irvine, California, marking the U.S. team’s biggest international meet of the year. Featuring top swimmers from nations outside Europe, the four-day competition runs through Saturday with live broadcasts on Peacock and NBCSN.
Star-Studded U.S. Roster and International Challengers in Irvine
The United States brings a formidable roster headlined by Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky, Simone Manuel, Kate Douglass, Torri Huske and Bobby Finke. These athletes will face elite competitors from Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and other participating nations. Traditionally, Pan Pacs allow qualified swimmers to enter any event on the schedule, though nations are restricted to a maximum of two swimmers per A final.
Ledecky has competed in a major international meet every year since the 2012 London Olympics, excepting the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic year. However, this will be her first major international meet held on U.S. soil.
High-Stakes Showdowns: Ledecky, McIntosh, Walsh, and Douglass
Among the most anticipated events on the program is the women’s 400m freestyle on Friday. That race pits Canadian world record holder Summer McIntosh against Ledecky, the third-fastest swimmer in history, and Australia’s Lani Pallister, who narrowly challenged Ledecky in the 800m free at the 2025 World Championships.
On the men’s side, Finke enters as an Olympic gold medalist in the 800m and 1500m freestyles. He is slated to face Australia’s top male distance swimmer, Sam Short, in the 800m on Wednesday and the 1500m on Saturday.
The sprint events feature an explosive domestic rivalry. Virginia training partners Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass—the two fastest women in history in the 50m free—are expected to clash on Saturday. Walsh broke Douglass’s world record on June 28, just nine days after Douglass had set the previous mark.
Japan’s Stacked Squad Targets Irvine Ahead of Asian Games
Japan arrives with a revamped roster looking to build on its third-place finish in the swimming medal table at the last edition of the Pan Pacific Championships, where the team secured 23 medals, including six golds. While legendary stalwarts like Yasuhiro Koseki, Ryosuke Irie, Kosuke Hagino, and Yui Ohashi have retired, veterans such as Katsuhiro Matsumoto, Ippei Watanabe, Rikako Ikee, and Satomi Suzuki return to anchor the team ahead of the Asian Games this fall.
Teenager Shin Ohashi enters the meet following a historic performance at the 101st Japan Swim in March. The 17-year-old set World Junior Records by clocking 58.67 in the 100m breaststroke and 2:06.59 in the 200m breaststroke. His 100m time made him the first-ever junior swimmer to break the 59-second barrier. He squares off against American competitors Van Mathias and Michael Andrew, Australian Sam Williamson, and compatriots Ippei Watanabe and Yamato Fukasawa.
Complete Finals Schedule and Broadcast Details
Morning preliminary heats begin daily at 10:00 PDT, while evening finals sessions start at 19:00 PDT. Competition kicks off Monday with open-water 10km races streamed live on the USA Swimming YouTube Channel, followed by four days of pool events broadcast live on Peacock and NBCSN from Wednesday through Saturday.
| Date | Featured Finals Events |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Aug. 12 | 50m fly, 200m free, 100m back, 200m fly, 800m free (men), 1500m free (women), Mixed 4x100m medley relay |
| Thursday, Aug. 13 | 400m IM, 100m free, 100m breast, 50m back, 4x200m free relay |
| Friday, Aug. 14 | 400m free, 100m fly, 200m back, 50m breast, 4x100m free relay |
| Saturday, Aug. 15 | 200m IM, 50m free, 200m breast, 1500m free (men), 800m free (women), 4x100m medley relay |
The full event schedule and ongoing results are tracked through official international coverage portals as swimmers vie for international titles in Southern California.