Chicago River Swim

06/18/2026

Thank you to Wintrust for returning as a sponsor of the 2026 Chicago River Swim.

Together, we’re helping more Chicago children gain access to swim lessons and water safety resources.

We're grateful to continue our partnership as we head back to the river this fall.

06/16/2026

Earlier this month, ten sculptures by artist Carole Feuerman were unveiled on and around Michigan Avenue, just north of the Chicago River.

The exhibition, Monuments of Stillness, features striking figures of swimmers crafted from painted bronze, resin, and stainless steel, and will be on display through November 15.

If you're in town for the Chicago River Swim this fall, be sure to add this unique exhibition to your itinerary.

📸 Photo courtesy of the Chicago Tribune

06/12/2026

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ days until the Swim!

Here. We. Go.

06/10/2026

Are you ready to get back in the water? We are.

📹:

06/04/2026

Swimmers, are you ready to do this one more time?

September 20. See you in the river.

06/02/2026

ICYMI: We were in Outside Magazine! 👀

The Chicago River Swim was just one of many expansions of urban waterways becoming a vessel for public swimming.

We’re so thrilled to see this trend across the nation and to be featured in this story!

Read the piece here:

From Portland to Baltimore, once-toxic rivers are becoming the nation’s newest playgrounds as swimmers reclaim their right to city waters.

05/31/2026

Today marks the end of ALS Awareness Month.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement. There is currently no cure, which is why continued research and funding are so critical.

Chicago River Swim supports ALS research at Northwestern University’s Ozdinler Lab. Led by Dr. Hande Ozdinler, in collaboration with Dr. Rick Silverman, the team helped identify AKV-9, a promising new compound that has shown the ability to improve diseased brain neurons affected by ALS. AKV-9 has since received orphan drug designation and FDA approval to begin Phase 1 clinical trials.

We are proud that support from our community is helping advance research with real potential to impact the future of ALS treatment.

05/28/2026

Our merch store is now open.

Wear your support and help fund ALS research and youth swim lessons! 🌊

Browse our collection at: https://www.chicagoriverswim.org/Race/Store/IL/Chicago/ChicagoRiverSwim

05/26/2026

05/22/2026

Here’s an update on our Chicago and U.S. roll call! 📢

We are thrilled to have applicants represented from:
👉 44 Chicago neighborhoods
👉 33 U.S. states
👉 12 countries around the world

Thank you for choosing to swim in the heart of our city. We can’t wait to show you what Chicago is all about.

If you missed our application deadline but are still interested in joining the swim this fall, we’ve reserved a limited number of entries through our special access programs.

To learn more about post-close entry opportunities and determine if you qualify, please visit our website: chicagoriverswim.org