Don't Miss Your Shot!

Due to the overwhelming demand, the Chicago River Swim requires a special application and screening process for those interested in participating. Once the application window closes, 500 swimmers will be selected from the pool of qualified candidates to swim in this historic event.

APPLICATION PROCESS
The 2026 application process opens Tuesday, March 31 at 10:00 AM CDT.

Those interested in participating must meet the following criteria: be 18 years of age on event day, show proof of prior open water swim experience for their requested distance (1-mile or 2-mile) from a professionally organized open water swim event in the previous 36 months, and submit an official questionnaire.

Credit cards or payments of any kind are not required for the application process. All applications will be screened for eligibility. The event is open and inclusive of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender expressions, and sexual identities.

SELECTION PROCESS
Individuals will be notified of their acceptance into the 2026 event beginning on Monday, May 4 via email. Once notified, selectees must agree to and complete the following within 72 hours to confirm their participation:

☑ Registration Fee | Selectees must complete a secondary registration process, pay a $100, non-refundable fee, and place their credit card on file
☑ US Masters Swimming License | Non-USMS Members must also pay a $20 non-refundable sanctioning fee upon registration
☑ Fundraise | Selected participants agree to fundraise a minimum amount ($1,250 for 1-mile, or $1,750 for 2-mile)
☑ Swim Safety | Participants must agree to wear the event-issued swim cap, timing chip and issued swim buoy during the swim, and abide by a forthcoming set of event rules 
☑ Athlete Briefing | Participants must attend a mandatory safety and logistics session prior to the event during Packet Pick-Up; No exceptions
☑ Packet Pick-Up | Participants must pick-up their own race packets on event weekend, and present a government-issued photo ID
☑ Forward Progress | Participants must make continuous progress from start to finish without prolonged stops during the event

NOTE: Additional requirements may be listed prior to the application process and/or event weekend.

WAITLIST PROCESS
Qualified applicants who are not selected will automatically be added to the event's Waitlist. Selected individuals who fail to complete their registration within 72 hours will be removed from the participant roster and replaced by the next name on the Waitlist. This process will continue until the field of 500 swimmers is filled. It is not uncommon for this process to continue for several weeks.

2026 FEES
There is no fee to apply, however selected participants will be required to complete a registration process, submit entry fees, create a personal fundraising profile, and commit to reaching a fundraising goal in order to enter the event.

• Application Fee: $0
• Participant Fee: $100 + $20 USMS fee (if applicable)
• Fundraising Minimum: $1,250 (1-mile) or $1,750 (2-mile)

Selected participants will be charged a non-refundable $100 event registration fee, a $20 U.S. Masters Swimming sanctioning fee (current USMS members excluded), and must place a credit card on file using a secure registration system. Applicants who are not selected will not be charged. 

Selected participants also agree to raise a minimum amount of dollars on behalf of the event beneficiaries. A fundraising portal, related tools and ongoing support will be provided by the event. Participants must complete their fundraising efforts by in advance of the event, or pay the outstanding balance using their credit card on file. 

To support their efforts, these fundraising milestones will be set for the 2026 season:

• Monday, May 4:            Participant Selection, Fundraising Begins
• Tuesday, May 12:         Kickoff & Fundraising Webinar
• Sunday, June 14:          Fundraising Milestone 1 (25% complete)
• Sunday, July 19:           Fundraising Milestone 2 (50% complete)
• Sunday, September 6: Fundraising Milestone 3 (100% complete)

Participants are strongly encouraged to go above and beyond their threshold, where incentives and awards will be offered to top fundraisers.

GUARANTEED ENTRY
A select group from the 2025 Chicago River Swim receive guranteed entry into the 2026 edition, including the top 10 Fundraisers and the eight overall competitive (award) winners. They must complete the same application process as the general public. Those who do not complete this process before the application window closes will not be eligilbe for guaranteed entry.

NO REFUNDS OR TRANSFERS
Once registration has been completed, refunds of any kind ARE NOT permitted. Entries cannot be transferred to other individuals. If someone else participates under your name and is injured or causes an accident, that person will not be covered by the included athlete protection insurance. Additionally, if the athlete participating in your name causes injury or damage, you may be liable in part for those damages.

CANCELATION POLICY
In the event of less than favorable water conditions, event organizers will attempt to postpone the event to an appropriate date. If no date is viable, participants will be automatically deferred to the next year’s event.

Thank you for understanding.