The International Swimming League (ISL) is coming back, it says.
Less than two weeks after the league resurfaced on social media for the first time in three years, shortly before the announcement of the new College Swimming League (CSL) next year, Commissioner Ben Allen told Reuters that the ISL is planning a return in 2026 after four years.
“ISL is coming back,” Allen told Reuters in an exclusive interview. “And we’re really excited about the prospect of a relaunch.”
Allen said the “ideal scenario” would be having the ISL restart in the fall of 2026–the same time the CSL is planning its launch–with a firm commitment to starting in 2027 if the initial date doesn’t happen.
We have been working hard behind the scenes on the next chapter of ISL. Big ambition, athletes first, and a renewed focus on fans. Reuters has the latest 🏊♂️✨https://t.co/tLrfnjbw8i
— International Swimming League (@iswimleague) December 22, 2025
The ISL has been out of action for four years, with its last public announcement coming in March 2022, when the league canceled its fourth season due to effects from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the league’s founder and primary backer, Konstantin Grigorishin, being a Ukrainian oligarch.
The ISL hosted three full seasons, beginning with a seven-meet inaugural campaign in 2019 (with each meet in a different location) before hosting back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021 in Budapest, working under COVID restrictions.
After the initial season had eight teams and seven matches, the league expanded to 10 teams, with 13 matches during the 2020 season and then 18 in 2021.
Allen said the ISL will be looking towards a new business model in its relaunch, focused more on sponsorship and media partnerships rather than relying on a single backer.
He was also confident the league would be coming back at a key time, in the lead-up to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, with one of the ISL’s objectives being to keep swimmers visible throughout the Olympic cycle.
The ISL is planning to return its seven-meet model in its relaunch, with matches split across North America and Europe and at least one stop in Asia and possibly in the Middle East, Allen said.
Allen also said the league has used the break to take feedback from broadcasters, fans, athletes and coaches, and hopes to make the product even better for TV.
One thing the league is reportedly weighing is switching the format from a two-day to a one-day match schedule.
“We’re going to be doing a couple of experiments and trials across the next couple of months to figure that out,” Allen said.
The ISL has been in legal battles with World Aquatics since its inception in 2018, but Allen said the league would return regardless of any outcomes in the courtroom.
World Aquatics reached a $4.6 million settlement with former ISL swimmers earlier this year, but a separate lawsuit filed by the ISL against World Aquatics is still ongoing. Both suits were filed in 2018.
The ISL has come under criticism for late payments to athletes throughout its existence, and as of December 2024, at least one team had yet to receive its solidarity payments from the 2021 campaign.
Good luck getting buy in from the athletes, especially the big names.
Good point. Last time the big names felt an obligation to at least show up and promote the sport. Personally feel the ISL season after Tokyo contributed heavily to Dressel’s burn out
Everyone always brings up the athletes not getting paid (understandably obviously) but I think the very related and arguably bigger issue for the potential success of the ISL is that in 3 years of operation they brought in zero revenue and zero sponsors. Obviously, you’re not going to be able to pay anyone with that sort of financial state.
So the real question for this relaunch is can they actually generate revenue and land sponsorships this time or do the same structural issues that hindered them in the first version of the league still exist?
Also as an aside – Maybe SwimSwam can run back the tapes on this, but the whole “Ukraine war is the reason we can’t… Read more »
That’s correct.
Hypothetically if this actually redeems itself and becomes a viable revenue generator for athletes and gives a legit path to longevity… the biggest fomo on earth from some of these EG folk, right? Torched that bridge for what?
I think we should all root for this to work cause the alternative being presented lately is so yuck, and NGBs are always going to focus on Olympics. It was always going to be a separate organization to really push the boundary of professionalization.
This should legally not be possible. It’s a shame! They still owe a whole team the bare minimum which is the solidarity payment! They haven’t paid price money at all! Grifters all of them. I wish swimswam would be more critical since many athletes suffered because of the lies.
So they’re gonna go head to head against the World Cup circuit in fall 2026? I just don’t see how that’s gonna work. There are a lot of things you can criticize World Aquatics for, but not paying athletes the prize money they are owed isn’t one of them (as far as I’m aware of).
I’m already curious when USA Swimming will schedule its SCM selection meet for 2026 short course worlds. Surely they’ll have to schedule it to avoid any conflicts with the World Cup. If I had to guess I’d say end of October or early November would be the most likely slot.
It’s crazy that they’re now saying that they’re relying upon the Olympics to boost interest when the original mission statement was all about ‘taking on the Olympics.’
People are always complaining there aren’t enough swim meets, but now there’s no room in the calendar for the ISL?
If there are only 7 meets per year, each team would only have to do 3-4. And swimmers aren’t forced to be present at every one of them.
I’m sure there’s plenty of empty time in the autumn to fit them in without conflicting with the World Cup series. Let’s not forget the World Cup series itself used to have 9 meets per year.
Their only big problem is money (and a little bit of preparation time). As long as money is there, other problems won’t be problems.
Athletes still haven’t been paid fyi
A one day format seems so much better than two.
TUNE BACK IN TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS??
This isn’t the world series, just make it single day events until some kinda postseason tourney.
I quite liked the two day format. Single day means cutting a lot of stuff. If you cut half the relays (Mixed only, 1 freestyle and 1 medley), the 400 free and 400IM and the stroke 50s you’d just about be able to have it in one session.
Who’s got the money?