Oceanman, the world’s leading open-water swimming franchise, is set to make its debut in the Maldives through a new partnership with Swim Maldives.

The first-ever Oceanman Maldives race will take place in Kaafu Maafushi in April 2026 and is expected to be the largest open-water swimming event ever hosted in the country. 

The competition will feature six race categories: 10km, 5km, 2km, Oceanfins 2km, Ocean Teams, and Ocean Kids. The Ocean Kids segment caters to the youngest participants, with age groups Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15.

The Masters category will include swimmers up to 70 years old, with six events scheduled across different subcategories.

The top 10 swimmers in each age group will qualify for the Oceanman World Championships. In addition, top three swimmers in each age group, along with the top three overall swimmers, will be selected.

Oceanman was established a decade ago and now hosts events in 26 countries annually. Swim Maldives stated that the Maldivian edition will follow the standard format of all Oceanman races, ensuring the same international benchmarks for safety and race execution.

Registration opened in October, and organisers report strong interest from both local and international swimmers. Registration remains open for those still wishing to participate.