The most historic open water swim event in Brighton.
Get ready for a landmark year! Our 90th Pier to Pier takes place in 2026, making it one of the oldest and most iconic swim races in the world.
Event Date: 27th June 2026
(Backup Date: 5th Sept 2026)
Sign up below to receive updates, important information, and exciting announcements about a special new race created to celebrate our 90th anniversary. Tickets go on sale 10am on 30th Jan with early bird tickets available to anyone on the early bird list (sign up below) Ability to access from 9am
Swimmers
Categories
Race Trophies
Brighton Swimming Club
Pier to Pier Festival
Event Date: 27th June 2026
(Backup Date: 5th Sept 2026)
Held under BLDSA regulations
The race event will be open to swimmers from 14 years and over.
All under 18s must be a current, Swim England registered, member of a swimming club. All under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult before and after the race.
The Swim Experience is open to over 18s only.
Entries are invited to participate in one of our two events.
All swimmers will be provided with electronic timing wristbands & numbered swim hats.
The Pier to Pier Experience
- The race event will be open to swimmers from 14 years and over.
- All under 18s must be a current, Swim England registered, member of a swimming club. All under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult before and after the race.
- The Swim Experience is open to over 18s only.
- The Bounce Back swim is open to over 18s only and you must be an experienced open water swimmer
- Entries are invited to participate in one of our three events.
- All swimmers will be provided with electronic timing wristbands & numbered swim hats.
Do you need reasonable adjustments to do the swim? If so what and please email bscpiertopier@gmail.com
(NB – while every effort will be taken to make adjustments for all swimmers if required, each request will be individually discussed with the organisers and safety team to make sure we can accommodate)
If you are over 75 please contact event managers direct bscpiertopier@gmail.com and provide evidence of swim ability and personal accident insurance before trying to apply for the swim
The Pier to Pier Race
- This is a ‘first past the post’ race where everyone will set off at the same time
- Open to skins and wetsuit swimmers (no fins)
- Minimum age: 14 (must be 14 by 27th June 2026)
- Various trophy categories
- Finishing medal for all completing the course
- Max age: 75
Introducing the Bounce Back swim for our 90th Anniversary
This swim is for experienced swimmers only. It is approx 3K swim where you will start at the West Pier, swim to the palace pier then swim back to the West Pier and finally swimming back to the finish line at the Palace Pier. YOU WILL BE SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE ON TWO LEGS OF THIS SWIM SO YOU MUST BE AN EXPERIENCED OPEN WATER SWIMMER TO TAKE PART
Take part in one of the UK’s oldest swimming races hosted by the oldest continuously running swimming club in England.
Get ready for some fun
What to Expect.
An Iconic Race
1km open water swim from West Pier to Palace Pier
A Swim for Everyone
Open to all adults (and children in Swimming Clubs)
Now in its 90th year Brighton’s Pier to Pier race is a 1K swim hosted by England’s oldest swimming club, BSC, with safety support provided by Blue Response.
The swim starts adjacent to the infamous derelict West Pier and ends at the Iconic Palace Pier.
We welcome independent and club swimmers, swimming costume (skins) and wetsuit swimmers. Our aim is to organise a friendly, fun event, whilst providing a challenge for all swimmers.
The events are open to swimmers over the age of 18 years (swimmers registered at a Swim England club can be younger) and trophies are awarded for various categories. (Skins and wetsuit swimmers all compete in the same category) Every swimmer will receive a medal to commemorate their swim.
The entry price includes a swim hat for the race, timing chip to wear during the swim, event insurance, full lifeguard and medical support. Even a finishers medal!
89 years old
The History of the Swim
In 1936 Brighton Municipal Council donated a trophy for an annual Pier to Pier swimming race, covering the two thirds of a mile course, open to swimmers from the UK, and to be staged by Brighton Swimming Club.
Each year, with interruptions for wartime beach closures and one or two cancellations due to rough seas, the race has been a highlight of the seafront event calendar.
Starting as a male only event, the race was opened up in the 1980s to both sexes, and the prize categories widened to include different age groups and team efforts.
Past swimmers have included an Olympic medallist, channel swimmers and top national pool swimmers.
Competitors used to dive off the West Pier to start the race, but since the West Pier closure in 1971 the race has started from the beach immediately next to the old pier.
The passing years have seen increased interest in the race, resulting in higher numbers of competitors, from all over the UK, and in recent years from overseas.
Most years have seen developments in how the race has been conducted, and this continues for 2026.
Brighton Swimming Club receives a great deal of voluntary assistance in staging the event from local clubs which specialise in sea activities.
Brighton & Hove City Council and the Brighton Palace Pier provide much needed support in staging this iconic event and we are grateful for their continued help.
The swim has been traditionally run as a race and this will continue, but we now also have an experienced swim which is for non competitive swimmers. There is no winners of this swim, it’s all about taking part and possibly achieving something you thought you could never do!
With thanks to
Event Partners
Suppliers
