The first races of 2026 have already begun in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UAE, USA and the Northern Mariana Islands (the first aquabike race ever to be held here!). But for the rest of us, the 2026 race season is yet to begin.
However, the start of race season is definitely getting nearer. The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and bikes are starting to emerge from turbo trainers and out on to the roads.
So, here’s our 2026 Aquabike Season Preview. There’s already so much to get excited about.
National Championships
The first National Championships of 2026 will take place in Mooloolaba, Australia in March. The Australian Standard Distance Championships will be followed by the Australian Middle Distance Championships in May, making Australia the 6th country to introduce National Aquabike Championships over different distances, following the introduction in Denmark in 2025.
2026 will also see National Championships for Belgium, Spain and Austria, and multiple championships of various distances for USA, Denmark, Canada and Poland.
Brits will have their chance to become National Champions in Monikie, Scotland at the start of July. The race will be the British Championships, 2027 World Championship qualifier and the first ever Scottish Aquabike championships. The Welsh championships are still ‘TBC’ on the British Triathlon website, and there will be no English championships as the race in Marlow has been postponed for a week and now conflicts with another championship. Monikie is an almost a 9-hour drive from London, and over a 5-hour drive from Manchester … hopefully the distance for many English competitors doesn’t reduce numbers. On the positive side, this year’s British Championships are separated from the triathlon championships. That’s definitely a good step forward.
European Middle Distance Championships – Banyoles, Spain – 19th July 2026
Lake Banyoles is internationally known as a rowing centre, and was the site of the 1992 Olympic rowing events. It is also no stranger to multisport racing.
Athletes will swim in Estany de Banyoles – Catalonia’s largest lake – before heading out on the bike into the Catalonian hills. Much like the standard championships in Pontevedra in 2026, the bike course will be on the hillier side, with 948m elevation over the 83.2km. That said, the gradients are slightly kinder than those in Pontevedra, with the steepest sections reaching 7.6% gradient, but none the less an undulating, hilly course. The course dips into the Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa – a volcanic nature reserve – which explains the hills, but also the incredible scenery.
Historic race day weather averages around 30°C, so it will most likely be on the toasty side. Banyoles isn’t the largest of places, and nearby towns such as Girona may be the best bet when searching for accommodation.
You can find out more about the race here.
World Standard Distance Championships – Pontevedra, Spain – 27 September 2026
Pontevedra is becoming a familiar site for major aquabike championships, following the standard championships in 2023, and long-distance world championships in 2019 and 2025.
The course is the same as it was in 2023. A river swim in Rio Lerez, followed by a two lap, out and back bike course. It’s not technical, but is hilly, with 475m elevation gain over 39.4km, mainly thanks to a 2km long climb averaging 5.7% gradient with some steeper parts (up to 11%) throughout.
The race was pretty well reviewed by competitors in 2023, so all is set for another incredible event. Something to note – accommodation is usually sold out on race weekend in Pontevedra, so you may end up with a room quite a bit out of town if you don’t get in there early. Right now, there’s still plenty available, so we’d recommend booking sooner rather than later.
You can find out more about the course and accommodation options here.
World Long Distance Championships – Abu Dhabi, UAE – 22 November 2026
Abu Dhabi held the standard distance world championships in 2022; however, the location will be different for this race. They were held on Yas Island. The 2026 Long Distance Championships will take place on Hudayriyat Island. This is ‘Abu Dhabi’s leading leisure and sports destination’, and looks to be a stunning location for the event. Cycling plays a big role on the island, and only the main road is open to public traffic, so the rest of the island is car free.
Looking at the bike course for the event, you may be forgiven for thinking it looks a little dull. However, speaking to race organizers, it is set to be anything but. A Velodrome has been built on Hudayriyat Island (construction work more or less finished), comprising of an indoor track with an outdoor track on the roof, with a cycle ramp to get up there. Rumours are that the bike course will incorporate the velodrome, as well as some artificial hills nearby, but this hasn’t been officially confirmed as of yet. It does sound like an exciting preposition, though.
Weatherwise, the average for this time of year is around 25 °C, with wind levels around 3.5mph, so fairly ideal race conditions. Sea temperature in the Arabian Gulf is on the warmer side – around 28°C average – so a wetsuit swim is unlikely.
With still 9 months to go before the start gun goes in Abu Dhabi, the details are very much to be confirmed. But we have every reason to believe this will be a truly awesome race and look forward to sharing updates when we have them here.
Some Firsts for 2026 …
The first first of 2026 has already been ticked off, with the first aquabike race on the Northern Mariana Islands. Alaska is also set to hold their first aquabike races – a sprint and standard – later this year.
In 2025, 3 countries held their first ever aquabike race, and this trend is set to continue in 2026, with Namibia, Norway and Czech Republic with their first races in the calendar. The Grizzlyman Half and Full Aquabike races in the Czech Republic are also some of the first extreme triathlon races to offer an aquabike options … an exciting progression indeed.
Excited for 2026?
Whether you’re gearing up for a major championship or looking to complete your first ever aquabike race, we have every confidence 2026 is going to be an incredible year.
Find your next event here … only a few months before it’s time to stand at a start line, if you haven’t already.