Christchurch will host a major Swimming New Zealand competition for the first time in 16 years when hundreds of the country’s top swimmers descend on the city’s Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.

Almost 700 swimmers from 79 clubs are expected to compete in the 2026 New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships, which begin on Sunday and run for five days until 1 October.

It will be the first major Swimming New Zealand competition held in Christchurch since 2010 and the first national swimming championships in the city since the earthquakes.

Swimming New Zealand CEO Steve Johns said returning to Christchurch was a significant moment for the sport.

“It’s fantastic to be returning to Christchurch for a national championship after such a long time away,” Johns said.

“Canterbury has a proud swimming history and has produced some outstanding athletes, so it feels special to be bringing our swimmers from across the country together here again.

“Parakiore is an outstanding new facility and we’re really looking forward to seeing it come alive with national championship racing over five days.”

Christchurch Paralympian and Aquablack Lili Fox Mason will be among the competitors taking to the new pool.

“I’m really excited for these championships as we will have some of the best athletes in New Zealand competing,” Mason said.

“This is an exciting time for Christchurch and the swimmers of Christchurch as we celebrate this incredible facility we now have.”

Mason will use the championships as a checkpoint ahead of a major training block leading into the New Zealand Long Course Championships in May, where she hopes to qualify for the Para World Swimming Championships.

The Christchurch event will also give swimmers the opportunity to chase qualification for the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Beijing in December.

The field includes three time Paralympic champion Cameron Leslie MNZM, Aquablacks Savannah Eve Martin, Amber George and Asher Smith Franklin, 2025 World Junior Champion Zoe Pedersen and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Milana Tapper.

Christchurch clubs will have a strong presence throughout the championships, with Wharenui Swim Club recording more than 230 individual entries across the five days.

Age group timed finals begin at 8.30am each day, with open finals featuring the country’s leading swimmers from 5pm.

The championships run at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre from Sunday 27 September until Thursday 1 October.