Upcoming Swimming Races in California

Endurance Grid lists 19 swimming races in California, from August 2026 to June 2027 across 17 cities.

19
Races
17
Cities

The lay of the land

Swimming Races in California

The swimming race calendar in California is busiest in August, September, and April, with races most often in Santa Cruz and Long Beach.

What open water swimming is

Open water swim races take place in lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. The course is marked by big buoys, with kayaks and lifeguards shadowing it the whole way. The water is the variable: currents, chop, temperature, and the need to sight and navigate for yourself.

There’s a distance for every level. A 500 to 750m swim is a good starting point to learn the sport, and most events stack several distances — a mile, 5K, 10K — on the same day, so you can start on the same course as the veterans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many swimming races are in California?+
Endurance Grid's Race Calendar lists 19 upcoming swimming races in California across 17 cities, from August 2026 to June 2027.
What swimming distances are offered in California?+
Swimming races in California include 1 mi, 1000m, 10K, 1500m, 2 mi, 500m, 5K, Olympic, and more distances.
When is swimming season in California?+
Swimming season in California runs spring through fall — the warmer months when open water is race-ready. Of the upcoming swimming races on Endurance Grid's Race Calendar, the most are in August and September.
Which California cities have swimming races?+
Swimming races in California are held in Newport Beach, Santa Cruz, Castaic, Cupertino, Goleta, Guerneville, La Jolla, Long Beach, Mendocino, and Mission Viejo, plus 7 other cities.

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