The Mare Nostrum Swim Tour is one of the most prestigious events on the international swimming calendar, bringing together elite swimmers from around the world for a three-stop series across the Mediterranean. The 2026 edition runs from 23 to 31 May, visiting Monaco, Canet-en-Roussillon, and Barcelona. Established in 1994, the tour serves as a key mid-season competition ahead of major summer championships and offers substantial prize money across all three legs.
What is the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour?
The Mare Nostrum Swim Tour is an annual series of three international swimming meets held at iconic Mediterranean venues. Organised by the swimming clubs of Monaco, Canet-en-Roussillon, and Barcelona, the tour features long-course (50m) racing across a wide range of individual events. Athletes compete at each stop, with overall series rankings determined by FINA Points. The series winner in each gender takes home a top prize of €21,000, while individual event winners receive €330 and meet or tour record breakers earn bonus prizes of €300 and €600 respectively. Originally, the tour also included Rome’s Trofeo Settecolli, but this fourth stop was removed after 2005.
When is the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour 2026?
The 2026 Mare Nostrum Swim Tour runs from Friday 23 May to Sunday 31 May, with three two-day stops:
- Monaco: Friday 23 to Saturday 24 May
- Canet-en-Roussillon: Wednesday 27 to Thursday 28 May
- Barcelona: Saturday 30 to Sunday 31 May
At each stop, morning heats lead into afternoon and evening finals. At the Canet leg, B Finals begin at 3:30 PM with A Finals from 5:30 PM.
Where is the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour?
The three host venues are spread along the western Mediterranean coastline. In Monaco, racing takes place at the Prince Albert II Swimming Pool within the Stade Louis II complex, a world-class Olympic-size facility in the heart of the principality. The second stop is held at the Centre de Natation Arlette Franco in Canet-en-Roussillon, southern France, which features a heated open-air 50m pool and a grandstand with a capacity of around 750 spectators. The tour concludes at Club Natació Sant Andreu in Barcelona, a club founded in 1971 that has been a Mare Nostrum host venue since the series began.
Key Contenders
The Mare Nostrum Swim Tour regularly attracts Olympic and World Championship medallists using the series to sharpen their form. In 2025, standout performers included Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, who claimed a freestyle double in Monaco with victories in the 100m and 200m events. Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen set a new Mare Nostrum meet record in the 800m freestyle in Barcelona, while New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt dominated the 400m individual medley. Other notable winners from the 2025 edition included Italy’s Alberto Razzetti (200m butterfly and 200m IM), Germany’s Anna Elendt (100m breaststroke), and Sweden’s Louise Hansson (100m butterfly). David Popovici of Romania, who set the Mare Nostrum 200m freestyle record of 1:44.74 in 2024, and Hungary’s Katinka Hosszú, a long-time series favourite, are among the athletes who have left their mark on the tour in recent years.
How to Watch
All A Finals sessions across the three stops are broadcast live on the official Mare Nostrum Swim Tour website at marenostrumswimtour.com. A stage pass covering one venue costs €2.99, while a full tour pass for all six days of racing is available for €6.99. Both live and on-demand viewing are included. In Brazil, coverage is available through Globo, while SuperSport carries the tour in South Africa. SportKlub provides broadcasts across Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and North Macedonia. Past editions dating back to 2019 are also available on demand via Fanseat.
History and Records
The Mare Nostrum Swim Tour was founded in 1994 by the swimming clubs of Monaco, Canet-en-Roussillon, and Barcelona, making the 2026 edition the 32nd staging of the event. The series has long served as a proving ground for the world’s best swimmers in the weeks before Olympic Games and World Championships. Until 2005, Rome’s Trofeo Settecolli formed a fourth leg of the tour. Over the decades, numerous world-class times have been posted at Mare Nostrum, with record holders including Sarah Sjöström of Sweden across multiple women’s freestyle and butterfly events. The tour’s relaxed yet competitive atmosphere and its Mediterranean setting have helped it become one of the most popular stops on the annual swimming circuit.
Tickets and Attendance
Ticket arrangements vary by venue. In Monaco, afternoon session tickets are priced at €8 for a single day or €10 for both days, with free entry for children under 12 and swimming licence holders. Morning sessions are free. In Canet-en-Roussillon, adult tickets cost €15 per day, with a reduced rate of €5 for children aged 10 to 17 and free entry for those under 10. Saturday and Sunday mornings are also free at Canet. Tickets for both venues can be purchased on site. For the Barcelona leg at CN Sant Andreu, check the club’s website for the latest pricing and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour 2026 start?
The 2026 edition begins on Friday 23 May in Monaco, with the tour running until Sunday 31 May.
Where is the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour held?
The tour visits three Mediterranean venues: Monaco (Stade Louis II), Canet-en-Roussillon (Centre de Natation Arlette Franco), and Barcelona (Club Natació Sant Andreu).
How can I watch the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour?
Live streaming is available via the official Mare Nostrum website, with passes from €2.99. Globo (Brazil), SuperSport (South Africa), and SportKlub (Balkans) also carry coverage.
Who won the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour in 2025?
Standout winners in 2025 included Siobhan Haughey (women’s freestyle double in Monaco), Daniel Wiffen (800m freestyle meet record in Barcelona), and Lewis Clareburt (400m IM in Monaco).