The International Swimming League (ISL) is set to make a comeback after a five-year break with an All-Star Match scheduled for December 19 at the London Aquatics Centre, the league announced on Wednesday, marking the initial phase of its anticipated full relaunch. This team-based competition will showcase top swimmers from around the globe vying for a substantial prize pool, with specific details to be revealed later, according to the league. Previous ISL events have featured prominent athletes such as American Caeleb Dressel, British swimmer Adam Peaty, and Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu.
The recent announcement solidifies the plans previously discussed by ISL Commissioner Ben Allen, who had indicated last year to Reuters that the league aimed to recommence its activities in the autumn of 2026 with a revised business model focusing less on a single investor and more on sponsorships and media partnerships.
Established in 2019 to offer a professional competition independent of the Olympic cycle, the ISL last held a season in 2021 before disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on its primary supporter, Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin.
In December, Allen unveiled preliminary plans for a seven-match comeback season spanning North America and Europe, with potential stops in Asia and the Middle East. The league was contemplating transitioning to a one-day event format after previously conducting competitions over two days.
In a noteworthy move, the ISL disclosed its intention in July to settle outstanding prize money owed to approximately 300 athletes from the 2021 season. The announcement made on Wednesday indicates that the London event will serve as a testing ground for this condensed approach before a broader relaunch.
ISL Commissioner Allen expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming All-Star Match, calling it a pivotal moment for the sport of swimming, with elite athletes returning to the ISL platform. London was hailed as the ideal host city, boasting a venue tailored for such occasions and an enthusiastic sporting audience.
The London Aquatics Centre, originally constructed for the 2012 Olympics, has been a venue for numerous international swimming competitions since then. The ISL stated that further details regarding participating swimmers, match format, ticketing information, and broadcast arrangements will be disclosed at a later date.