European Swimming Championships on the Seine: traffic restrictions announced in Paris

Swimming events, artistic swimming, and high diving... The European Swimming Championships are heading to Paris and the city of Saint-Denis from July 31 to August 16, 2026. To ensure the smooth running of certain events held along the Seine, traffic restrictions will be put in place in Paris’s 15th and 16th districts. Here’s what you need to know.

Following the FIFA World Cup and the Tour de France, it's time for the European Swimming Championships. Great news for fans of high diving or artistic swimming, as the event takes place in Île-de-France! Paris and the city of Saint-Denis will host these European Swimming Championships from July 31 to August 16, 2026.

While open-water swimming and high diving will be held in the Seine, near the Grenelle quay, the other events (pool swimming, artistic swimming and diving) will take place at the Centre Aquatique Olympique Métropole du Grand Paris in Saint-Denis.

But to ensure the smooth running of these swimming events in the Seine in Paris, the Préfecture de police has issued an order temporarily modifying the general traffic rules around Île aux Cygnes and the iconic Bir-Hakeim Bridge in the 15th and 16th arrondissements of Paris.

Detail: the Bir-Hakeim Bridge will be closed to both traffic and pedestrians from July 31 to August 13 inclusive, “in the direction from the 15th to the 16th,” as specified. By contrast, traffic will run in the opposite direction on the Bir-Hakeim bridge, “upstream side from the 16th toward the 15th,” according to the Police Prefecture, for the same period. Finally, the bicycle lane under the elevated metro of the Bir-Hakeim Bridge, between the 15th and 16th arrondissements, will be neutralized from July 31 to August 13.

On the City of Paris side, the City of Paris announces that the Île aux Cygnes is privatized from July 31 to August 9 inclusive, while the Australia Promenade, in the 15th arrondissement, is privatized from August 3 to 10 inclusive. In both cases, "only ticket holders will be allowed access".

Finally, the City Hall reminds that the Grenelle swimming site, in the 15th arrondissement, is closed to the general public from August 1 to 9 inclusive due to these European Swimming Championships.

European Swimming Championships 2026 in Paris: how to watch certain events for free?
The European Swimming Championships 2026 take place in Paris, with two events held in the city’s river, which will be more accessible to the general public! How to watch the open-water races and high-diving competitions next August? [Read more]