Summer aquatic races and events, open water swimming and water adventures

When temperatures start to rise, there's nothing better than taking to the water! But when the sea is far away and lakes are inaccessible in the middle of the urban jungle, you have to find alternatives. We're taking advantage of the gradual reopening of certain bodies of water for swimming in the Ile-de-France region, on the Seine, in the Marne and many others, to take a dip and why not try open-water swimming races?

• To be read
• The ultimate guide to running and road races in Paris and Île-de-France for 2026
• Yvelines: 10 outings for the weekend of September 12-13 in the 78

These multiply during the summer season and stop as soon as the cooler weather returns, so if you consult this guide in summer, it may well be empty, in which case you'll have to wait until next summer arrives! Experienced swimmers and amateurs looking for races where they can discover open-water swimming can compete over distances ranging from just a few hundred meters to almost 10 kilometers for the most athletic, not forgetting triathlons.

There's plenty of opportunity to challenge yourselves, or to take to the water in a more playful setting, in a relaxed atmosphere, without a stopwatch, with unusual races! Buoy and bathtub races await you across the region, as do water festivals and paddle descents, for offbeat water events that let you enjoy the summer without taking yourself too seriously.

Events not to be missed during the summer season

Paddle the Canal: Down the Ourcq Canal by canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle, new date
Summer at the Canal kicks off with a new edition of Canal en pagaies, the fun paddle down the Ourcq Canal, on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Are you ready to paddle 10 kilometers? [Read more]

The Traversée de Paris et des Hauts-de-Seine: a 28-km rowing trek on the Seine
Meet on the banks of the Seine on Sunday, September 13, 2026 to cheer on the participants in the Traversée de Paris et des Hauts-de-Seine, a 28-kilometer row along the river! [Read more]

Triathlon des Roses 2026: a charity race against breast cancer at the Domaine de Saint-Cloud
The ARC Foundation is organizing the Roses Triathlon, a charity race for women to fight breast cancer, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud. [Read more]