PARIS — Paris hosted its first major organised Seine River race in nearly 80 years on Sunday, as hundreds of swimmers competed in an open-water event through the French capital, marking another step in efforts to restore public access to the river.
The Open Swim Harmonie Mutuelle Paris included an 8.5-kilometre race along the Seine, with participants swimming from the Bibliothèque nationale de France area to Quai de Grenelle near the Eiffel Tower, according to organisers and the Paris tourism office. Shorter races were also held as part of the wider open-water programme.
The event was organised as part of a broader initiative to expand recreational use of the Seine and promote awareness of water quality and environmental issues, organisers said. The race was held on July 12 after a weekend programme that also included events on the Canal de l’Ourcq and Bassin de la Villette.
The return of competitive swimming to the Seine follows years of investment by Paris authorities and the French government to improve river conditions. The cleanup effort included measures aimed at reducing pollution from wastewater and stormwater overflows, with the goal of making the river suitable for swimming and aquatic events.
Swimming in parts of the Seine had been restricted for decades because of pollution concerns and navigation risks. The river later became a central venue for swimming events during the 2024 Paris Olympics, although water-quality monitoring remained a focus for organisers during periods of heavy rainfall.
Organisers said the 2026 race followed the tradition of the historic Traversée de Paris à la nage, a long-distance swimming event associated with earlier attempts to make the Seine a venue for public competition. The Open Swim Harmonie Mutuelle Paris was presented as a continuation of those efforts, with routes designed for both experienced swimmers and amateur participants.
Authorities have continued to monitor water conditions as swimming activities expand. The City of Paris has also introduced supervised swimming opportunities and other aquatic activities linked to efforts to reconnect residents with the river.
The latest edition concluded without organisers reporting major disruptions, and the event’s organisers confirmed that the 2026 programme had been completed as scheduled.
