More than 900 Swimmers from 27 Countries Set to Take Part in Oceanman Bali 2026
More than 900 participants from 27 countries are expected to join the world’s most prestigious open-water swimming competition, Oceanman Bali 2026. After a two-year hiatus, Indonesia returns to the official Oceanman World Series circuit. Under the theme ‘Waves of Change’, the event is set to be held from 19 to 21 June 2026 at Kedonganan Beach, Bali.
Chairman of Oceanman Indonesia, Wibowo Suseno Wirjawan, stated that Oceanman Bali is among the most sought-after series on the international calendar. Its main attraction lies in Bali’s iconic sea backdrop and a challenging course.
‘Not only does it bring sporting competition, but the presence of hundreds of international participants also delivers a direct boost to the tourism sector,’ he said.
Participation in the event has continued to show a positive trend. Oceanman Bali was successfully held in 2021, 2022, and 2023, with numbers of participants steadily increasing.
In the last edition in 2023, the competition was attended by 700 participants. This year, the number of participants has surged by around 30 percent, with registrations opened in October 2025 and, just one month before the event, the participant tally has surpassed 900.
The surge in participant numbers demands thorough preparation from organisers. Oceanman Indonesia co-founder and coach of the Indonesian National Swimming Team, Felix Sutanto, said that managing a large number of participants in open water is a highly complex challenge, covering safety, supervision, and natural conditions such as currents and waves, so Oceanman Bali 2026 will not only be a competition but also a large-scale event with international standards.
To accommodate varying abilities and age groups, Oceanman Bali 2026 features six race categories: Oceankids 500 metres, Oceanteams 3x500 metres, Oceanfins 2 kilometres, Ocean Sprint 2 kilometres, Half Oceanman 5 kilometres, and the main Oceanman 10 kilometres.
The diversity of categories opens opportunities for novice to professional swimmers to experience the open-water challenge while enjoying Bali’s sea scenery.
To date, the lineup of participating countries includes 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.
Names such as Indonesian young swimmer Joe Aditya and public figures and sports enthusiasts, Desmond Sutanto, are also confirmed to take part.
The positive impact of the event is projected not only to touch sports but also the local economy. Director of PT Avatara Lintas Media, the promoter, Herty Purba, said that the arrival of athletes with accompanying families and support teams could boost tourist visitation to Bali.
Thus, the Kedonganan Beach Coastal Tourism Area Management Agency (BPKP2K Kedonganan) will host the Oceanman Festival as a platform for local culinary operators, SMEs, and cultural practitioners to promote and develop their products to visitors from various countries,’ he concluded.