SWIMMING

Swimming at Rainbow Games 2026 

Join us for a celebration of skill, spirit, and community in the pool! Swimming at Rainbow Games 2026 welcomes players of all identities, levels, and backgrounds to take part in a fun and inclusive tournament across multiple divisions.

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WAYS TO REGISTER:​​​​​​​

  • Register as an Individual . This will enable you to pick the individual and relay races you will compete in.

DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

ABOUT SWIMMING

VENUE

Hiwa Recreation Centre, University of Auckland

DATES

Saturday 31 October

REGISTRATION COSTS

Registration Fee (Reg + Sport Fee per person)

  • Early Bird: $59 (from 15 February to 15 April 2026)
    • Standard: $69 (from 16 April to 16 October 2026)
  • ​​​​​​​Swimming Sport Fee : $30 per player

Your registration includes access to a full Rainbow Games experience:

  • Ticket to the Opening Ceremony (Thursday 29 October)
  • Ticket to the Closing Ceremony (Sunday 1 November)
  • Access to the arts, culture, and social programme throughout the Games
  • Opportunity to compete for medals and represent your community with pride
  • Player accreditation pass 
  • Your fee includes a contribution to the Rangatahi Legacy Initiative, supporting future generations of LGBTQI+ youth in sport

In addition to the registration fee, players must pay a sport fee to participate in a sport of their choice.


CATEGORIES

The following categories are available:

  • Open
  • Female-identifying


  • Open (Inclusive of all gender identities and expressions. Anyone can enter this division.)
  • Female-identifying (Open to cis women, trans women, and non-binary players assigned female at birth.)


Within each category, you’ll select your division. The divisions are split by age, in line with the standard Masters format used in LGBTQI+ swimming competitions, with categories grouped by decade to support fair and inclusive participation:

  • 18–29
  • 30–39
  • 40–49
  • 50–59
  • 60–69
  • 70–79
  • 80+


You’ll be asked to enter five swimming races in the following formats and distances, alongside entering your expected finishing times to assist with operations. See options below:

  • Freestyle 25m, 50m, 100m, 200m
  • Breaststroke 25m, 50m, 100m
  • Backstroke 25m, 50m, 100m
  • Butterfly 25m, 50m
  • Team Relays 4 x 50m Freestyle, 4 x 50m Medley
  • Individual Medley 100m
  • Any Stroke 200m

FAQS

MATCH FORMAT, DRAWS AND SCHEDULE