Western Australia to host two national events in 2027

Swimming Australia will return to Western Australia in 2027, with two major national events confirmed for Bunbury and Perth.

The Australian Open Water Championships and Ocean Swim Festival will return to Bunbury in January 2027, ahead of the Australian Short Course Championships in Perth in September.

The Australian Open Water Championships and Ocean Swim Festival returns to Bunbury’s Koombana Bay from 21 to 24 January, following a successful 2026 event that attracted more than 1000 swimmers, and in excess of 900 athletes from outside the South West region that generated more than $2.8 million in economic impact.

Currently one of Australia’s strongest regions for open water swimming, the return in 2027 keeps the Championship and mass participation event in WA’s South West region for a fifth year, with Bunbury already announced as the 2028 venue.

Later next year, the Australian Short Course Championships will be staged at the Perth High Performance Centre (Perth HPC), marking Western Australia’s first national pool event since 2012, with around 500 swimmers expected to compete across three days from 29 September to 1 October.

“We are delighted to bring a national pool event back to Perth for the first time in more than a decade,” said Rob Woodhouse, CEO Swimming Australia.

“Perth has a proud history of hosting Swimming Australia events, and we look forward to working with Venues West and Swimming WA to deliver next year’s Australian Short Course Championships at the Perth HPC.

“We are also pleased to return to Bunbury after the success of the 2026 event, and we hope the dolphins that joined our swimmers last time will welcome us back again in 2027 and 2028.”

The events are supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism Western Australia, with additional support from the City of Bunbury for the Australian Open Water Championships.

“WA is the perfect place to host the Australian Open Water Championships and Ocean Festival and bring open water athletes from across the country together to swim in the beautiful waters in the South West region of WA,” said Emily Randall, CEO Swimming WA.

“It is very exciting to be hosting the Australian Short Course Championships in 2027 at the Perth High Performance Centre. One year out of LA 2028, WA athletes have the opportunity to compete against Australia’s best swimmers on home turf without the usual requirements to travel interstate.”

“Western Australia securing both the Australian Open Water Championships and Ocean Swim Festival in January 2027, as well as the Australian Short Course Championships later in the year, highlights our state’s strength as a premier destination for world-class sporting events,” said the Hon. Samantha Rowe MLC, Western Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier; Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment.

“These events not only bring elite competition to Western Australia, but also attract thousands of visitors, spectators and support staff which deliver huge economic benefits to our tourism and hospitality sectors.

“The Cook Labor Government is committed to building a diverse, year-round events calendar that prioritises supporting local jobs and businesses, drives visitation to our regional areas, and highlights the best of Western Australia to the world.”

“Bunbury is thrilled to once again welcome the nation’s best open water swimmers to Koombana Bay in 2027,” said City of Bunbury Mayor, Jaysen Miguel.

“The 2026 event was an incredible success, drawing more than 1000 swimmers and delivering a significant boost to our local economy. Events like this shine a spotlight on Bunbury and the wider South West as a premier destination – not just for sport, but for our beautiful waterways, our hospitality and our community spirit.

“Koombana Bay’s sheltered waters, our vibrant waterfront and the natural beauty of the South West make Bunbury the perfect stage for this event, and if the swimmers are lucky, our resident dolphins might just join them in the water again.

“With Bunbury also confirmed as the 2028 host, we’re proud to be cementing our reputation as the home of open water swimming in Western Australia, and we can’t wait to welcome swimmers, their families and visitors back to our shores.”

Entries for the 2027 Australian Open Water Championships will be open shortly, with tickets and entries for the 2027 Australian Short Course Championships will be available at a later date.