The Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race

Istanbul will turn the Bosphorus into one of the world’s most unforgettable open-water stages on August 23, 2026, as the 38th Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race brings swimmers from around the world together between Asia and Europe. Organized by the Turkish National Olympic Committee since 1989, this prestigious race will once again carry the spirit of Olympism, international friendship, and the rare thrill of crossing continents by swimming.

The route will stretch approximately 6.5 kilometers, starting from Kanlıca on the Asian side and finishing in Kuruçeşme on the European side. Swimmers will move with the Bosphorus current, reading the water, staying focused, and using Istanbul’s shoreline as their guide. Every stroke will carry them through one of the most historic waterways on earth, with bridges, palaces, waterfront neighborhoods, and the city’s unmistakable skyline shaping the experience.

This is more than a race. It is a lifetime memory. Recognized in the past among the world’s top open-water swimming events, the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race will bring together thousands of athletes in a celebration of endurance, courage, and connection. For visitors and spectators, the day will be just as special: watch the start near Kanlıca, feel the excitement along the Bosphorus, taste the neighborhood’s famous Kanlıca yogurt, then follow the finish-line atmosphere in Kuruçeşme. Even if you are not swimming, you will still want to be here—because on this day, Istanbul does something no other city can do quite the same way: it turns sport into a journey between continents.