Male' Maldives: Maldives is preparing to welcome one of the world’s premier open-water swimming events as OCEANMAN Maldives 2026 (OM26) gears up to take place in Kaafu Maafushi, marking a major milestone in the country’s sports tourism landscape.
The event is organised by OCEANMAN Global in partnership with Swim Maldives, who hold exclusive franchise rights for the Maldives edition.
OCEANMAN, headquartered in Spain, is recognised as the world’s first and largest open-water swimming franchise, staging 38 races annually across 26 countries and drawing 1,500–2,000 participants per race.
OCEANMAN Maldives 2026 will follow the same competitive format and safety standards upheld across all international races.
The event will feature a full slate of categories, including OCEANMAN 10KM, Half OCEANMAN 5KM, Sprint 2KM, OceanFins 2KM, OCEANKIDS, and OCEANTEAMS, a team relay with three swimmers each completing a 500m lap. Age groups range from U9 to 70+, with top performers earning qualification for the Oceanman World Championships, a prestigious annual event open only to qualifiers.
Set in the scenic waters off Maafushi Bikini Beach, OM26 is expected to become one of the largest international sporting gatherings ever held in the Maldives. Registration opened on 10 October 2025, and the event has already attracted 142 participants from 19 countries, with registrations filling 26.8% of the capped 501 slots five months ahead of race day.
Current registration statistics show strong international interest, with 108 overseas swimmers (76.06%) and 34 Maldivian participants (23.94%). Top-represented nations include Russia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.
Local swimmers benefit from a 40% discount on registration fees, coordinated through Swim Maldives and licensed local coaches.
Category-wise, participation so far includes:
OCEANMAN 10KM: 23 swimmers
Half OCEANMAN 5KM: 52 swimmers
Sprint 2KM: 52 swimmers
Sprint 2KM Fins: 1 swimmer
OCEANKIDS (500m): 11 swimmers
OCEANTEAMS: 3 teams
The event has received an official endorsement from Visit Maldives, which highlighted OCEANMAN Maldives 2026 as perfectly aligned with its upcoming “Ocean Nation” promotional theme. OM26 is also formally registered with the Commissioner of Sports under the Maldives Sports Act.
With international excitement building and capacity already filling rapidly, OCEANMAN Maldives 2026 is poised to become a signature event on the global open-water swimming calendar, bringing together elite athletes, passionate amateurs, and sports-driven tourism in one of the world’s most breathtaking ocean settings.
