900 swimmers from 27 countries to compete in Oceanman Bali 2026

900 swimmers from 27 countries will compete at Oceanman Bali 2026, staged at Kedonganan Beach, Bali, from 19 to 21 June.

With the theme ‘Waves of Change’, the event is being held again after a two-year hiatus.

‘This phenomenon indicates a growing interest in open-water swimming globally. With the iconic Bali sea backdrop and challenging swimming courses, Oceanman Bali has become one of the most sought-after series on the international calendar. Not only does it provide a sporting competition, but the presence of hundreds of international participants also has a direct impact on the tourism sector,’ said Wibowo Suseno Wirjawan, Chairman of Oceanman Indonesia, in a press release on Wednesday.

The event, which has been held three times since 2021, 2022, and 2023, has seen a 30 per cent rise in participants compared with the last edition in 2023.

At the 2026 edition, Oceanman Bali features six race categories designed for different abilities and age groups: Oceankids 500m, Oceanteams 3x500m, Oceanfins 2km, Ocean Sprint 2km, Half Oceanman 5km, and the flagship Oceanman 10km.

The organising committee hopes these categories will provide opportunities for beginner to professional swimmers to experience open-water swimming challenges while enjoying Bali’s sea beauty.

‘Managing more than 900 participants in open water is a complex challenge, including safety, supervision, and natural conditions such as currents and waves, so Oceanman Bali 2026 is not only a competition but also a large-scale event with international standards,’ said Oceanman Co-Founder Felix Sutanto.

More than just a sea-swimming competition, the event serves as a forum for professional athletes and water-sports enthusiasts from around the world to come together in a single international-start arena.

Indonesian rising swimmer Joe Aditya, who is gaining traction at national and international levels, and public figure Desmond Sutanto are also taking part in the event.

For both, Oceanman is not just a competition but a means of testing personal abilities and inspiring a wider community as an international open-water swimming event.

Participants from 27 registered countries include Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, India, Russia, Japan, Thailand, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Hungary, Qatar, South Korea, the Maldives, Taiwan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Belarus.