Port Elizabeth, South Africa – For the first time in nearly three decades, the world’s premier lifesaving event will return to South Africa when the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 (LWC 2026) takes place in Nelson Mandela Bay from 25 November to 13 December 2026.
Hosted by DHL Lifesaving South Africa in partnership with the International Life Saving Federation (ILS), the championships will welcome thousands of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters from approximately 75 countries to Port Elizabeth for one of the largest international sporting events ever staged in the region.
Competition will take place across Kings Beach and the Newton Park Swimming Pool, with between 3,500 and 6,000 athletes and delegates expected to participate across surf and pool disciplines during the 19-day event.
The championships are projected to generate an estimated R385 million in direct economic impact for Nelson Mandela Bay through tourism, accommodation, hospitality, transport, and visitor spend, while also placing the city and South African lifesaving on a global stage.
Craig van Rooyen, Director of Sport at Lifesaving South Africa, said the event represents a major milestone for both the sport and the country.
“This is a landmark moment for lifesaving in South Africa and for Nelson Mandela Bay. Hosting the world championships gives us the opportunity to showcase our facilities, coastline, hospitality, and organisational capability to an international audience, while also creating meaningful opportunities for athletes and clubs across the country.”
The 2026 event will mark the first time the Lifesaving World Championships has been hosted in the Eastern Cape and the first time South Africa has hosted the competition since Durban in 1996.
Winston A. Meyer, President of Lifesaving South Africa, said the significance of the championships extends far beyond competition.
“Hosting this championship is more than a sporting achievement; it is a statement of Africa’s readiness to stand tall on the world stage of lifesaving. It is a chance to showcase our beaches, our culture, and our people’s warmth and resilience.
Unlike many other sports, lifesaving carries a deeper purpose. Every skill practised and every race contested translates into lives saved on beaches, in pools, and within communities around the world.”
Meyer also thanked the International Life Saving Federation, government stakeholders, sponsors, volunteers, and the broader lifesaving community for their support in bringing the championships to South Africa.
“This event will not only be remembered as a competition, but as a festival of humanity, unity, and excellence,” he said.
The championships build on years of successful national events hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay and are expected to leave a lasting legacy for the sport’s development in South Africa, while giving local athletes the rare opportunity to compete against the world’s best on home soil.
Further event details, including schedules and participating nations, visit the DHL Lifesaving SA website.
