Chicago River Swim Returns, Cementing a New Tradition on a Revived Waterway

CHICAGO, IL – March 12, 2026 – In what is rapidly becoming a landmark civic tradition, the Chicago River Swim will return for its second annual event on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Following a triumphant inaugural swim that saw people legally swimming in the river for the first time in nearly a century, the event once again promises to showcase the waterway's remarkable environmental transformation while supporting critical charitable causes.

Presented by the City of Chicago and Mayor Brandon Johnson, the swim will feature 500 qualified swimmers navigating a course through the architectural canyon of the river's Main Stem. The event stands as a powerful symbol of decades of environmental progress and a testament to a new vision for the river as a public, recreational asset.

"The Chicago River Swim reflects my administration's commitment to restoring and activating the river as a safe and accessible public asset," said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement. "This event celebrates decades of environmental progress and demonstrates what is possible when the City partners with community leaders to expand opportunity, promote public health, and bring Chicagoans together around our shared waterways."

A River Reborn

The very idea of swimming in the Chicago River would have been unthinkable for generations. Once a polluted industrial channel, the river is now at its cleanest in recorded history, a transformation born from decades of concerted effort. This comeback is the result of landmark legislation like the 1972 Clean Water Act, massive infrastructure projects like the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's (MWRD) Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, and tireless advocacy from groups like Friends of the Chicago River.

The results are tangible. The river system, which supported fewer than a dozen fish species in the 1970s, now hosts a thriving ecosystem with nearly 80 different species. Recent studies confirm that many of these species, including some intolerant to pollution, are successfully reproducing, signaling a truly revitalized habitat. This ecological revival has made the once-unimaginable possible.

"The return of open water swimming in the Chicago River positions Chicago as a world leader in embracing its river as a resilient natural wonder," noted Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River. "The fact that people can once again safely enter and enjoy the river demonstrates how far we've come in restoring water quality, strengthening habitat, and recognizing the river as a living ecosystem, teeming with life, at the heart of our city."

To ensure swimmer safety, the water quality is subjected to a rigorous, layered testing protocol. The University of Illinois Chicago will conduct frequent DNA-based testing for microbial pollutants, applying the same strict recreational water quality criteria used at Chicago's popular lakefront beaches.

A Dual Mission of Hope and Safety

At its core, the Chicago River Swim is more than an athletic event; it is a powerful engine for philanthropy. The event is produced by the nonprofit A Long Swim, founded by marathon swimmer Doug McConnell. For McConnell, the cause is deeply personal, having lost both his father and sister to ALS. His organization has already raised over $3 million for ALS research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Proceeds from the swim directly support the Ozdinler Lab, which is at the forefront of developing treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. This funding has contributed to significant breakthroughs, including a promising compound that has now entered Phase 1 clinical trials.

"Year one proved that this swim could be done safely and responsibly, and that people were ready to embrace the river in a new way," said McConnell. "The second annual Chicago River Swim is about building on that momentum. It is deeply meaningful to see this become a lasting tradition that supports ALS research and helps ensure more young people have access to swim education and water safety."

That second mission—water safety—is equally vital. The event partners with the Chicago Park District and the USA Swimming Foundation to fund free and accessible swim lessons for youth in underserved communities. The initiative has already provided water safety instruction to over 4,000 children, a critical life skill in a city defined by its proximity to water.

"Learning to swim is about more than recreation, it's a matter of safety and equity," said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. "Partnerships like Chicago River Swim help further our efforts to remove financial and other barriers to ensure more young people gain life-saving skills and confidence in the water."

Forging a New Civic Identity

The swim's return solidifies its place as a new, defining event on the city's calendar. It activates the iconic Chicago Riverwalk, inviting thousands of spectators to line the banks and cheer from bridges, transforming the downtown core into a stadium for a morning. This engagement strengthens Chicagoans' connection to the river, recasting it not as a barrier to be crossed, but as a central public space to be celebrated.

The event aligns perfectly with the city's long-term vision to develop the river corridor into a continuous greenway, enhancing public access, recreation, and ecological health. By demonstrating the river's potential, the swim acts as both a celebration of past achievements and a catalyst for future investment in this vital natural asset.

On event day, swimmers will tackle one- and two-mile courses stretching between the Dearborn Street and Clark Street bridges. The course will be fully closed to all other vessel traffic under the authority of the U.S. Coast Guard, creating a safe and unique environment for the competition. Applications for the 500 swimmer spots will open on March 31, with all participants undergoing an eligibility review to ensure they have the requisite open-water swimming experience. On event day, swimmer safety will be paramount, with over 100 trained personnel on the water, and each swimmer will be equipped with tracking chips and personal swim buoys for maximum visibility and protection.