An aerial view of the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatic Sports Arena. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]

Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, will host the 2026 national swimming championships at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatic Sports Arena in April 2026, according to a notice from the China Swimming Association on Sept 19.

This marks the return of the country's top-tier swimming competition to the city after it successfully staged the 2023 national championships.

Riding on the legacy of the 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou in 2023, the city is establishing itself as an international hub for major sports events, supported by its world-class infrastructure and facilities. The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Aquatic Sports Arena, the venue for the 2026 championships, is the second-largest swimming and diving facility in China, with a total floor area of 54,000 square meters, second only to Beijing's National Aquatics Center, known as the "Water Cube".