The International Swimming League (ISL) is set to make a comeback after a five-year break with an All-Star Match scheduled at the London Aquatics Centre on December 19, as announced by the league. This event marks the first move towards the full relaunch of the league.
The upcoming team-based competition will showcase some of the top swimmers globally vying for a significant prize purse, with specific prize details to be revealed later, according to the league. Previous ISL events have seen renowned swimmers like Caeleb Dressel from the United States, Adam Peaty from Britain, and Katinka Hosszu from Hungary in action.
The announcement solidifies the plans laid out by ISL Commissioner Ben Allen last year, who had expressed hopes of resuming activities in the fall of 2026 with a revamped commercial strategy focusing more on sponsorships and media partnerships rather than reliance on a single investor.
Originally launched in 2019 to offer a professional competition outside the Olympic calendar, the ISL’s last season was in 2021 before operations were halted due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions caused by Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, affecting its main supporter, Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin.
Allen revealed in December that the league had envisioned a comeback season featuring seven matches across North America and Europe, with potential events in Asia and the Middle East. The ISL was also contemplating a condensed one-day format following previous two-day competitions.
Earlier in July, the league pledged to settle overdue prize money for approximately 300 athletes from the 2021 season. The recent announcement of the London event as an All-Star Match indicates a trial run for this streamlined approach before a broader resumption.
“We are thrilled to bring back the ISL’s All-Star Match, showcasing the world’s top athletes on this prestigious stage,” remarked Allen in a statement. “London, with its exceptional venue and passionate sporting fans, is an ideal host city for such an event.”
The London Aquatics Centre, originally constructed for the 2012 Olympics, has since been a venue for various major international swimming competitions. Details regarding the participating swimmers, match format, ticketing, and broadcast arrangements for the event will be disclosed by the ISL at a later date.