Every year, swimmers take to the waters of the Liffey for one of Dublin’s most remarkable sporting traditions: the Liffey Swim. First held in 1920, this open-water swimming race runs through the heart of the Irish capital, watched by spectators gathered along the quays.
More than a century after it began, the spectacle remains a strikingly unlikely one: while life continues along Dublin’s quays, swimmers make their way down the river, passing beneath the capital’s bridges as they compete for one of the most prestigious victories of the Irish open-water swimming season.
In 2026, the Liffey Swim returns on Saturday 12 September for its 106th edition. It is a particularly appealing event for travellers visiting Dublin, as the race can be watched free of charge from the quays.
The story of the Liffey Swim began on 22 July 1920. The idea of having competitors swim in the river that runs through Dublin came from Bernard Fagan, a swimmer and future Dublin Corporation analyst.
The very first edition brought together just 27 swimmers. J.J. Kennedy won the inaugural race, giving rise to a tradition that would gradually become part of the capital’s sporting calendar.
At the time, the event quickly drew curious onlookers. In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, large crowds were already gathering along the quays to watch the swimmers pass by.
More than a century later, the race is still held and remains one of Dublin’s most distinctive sporting events.
The Liffey Swim does not take place in a lake or on a beach outside Dublin. That is precisely what makes it so distinctive: competitors swim directly in the River Liffey, right in the city centre.
For the 2026 edition, the course covers around 2.2 km. The start is scheduled at Rory O’More Bridge, close to the Guinness area and Victoria Quay. Swimmers then follow the river eastwards to the finish at Custom House Quay.
As they make their way along the course, they pass beneath several of Dublin’s bridges and alongside some of the capital’s landmark buildings. The setting changes constantly, from old quays and the historic centre to more monumental architecture as they approach Custom House.
For spectators, this is also one of the event’s attractions. You can follow part of the race by walking along the quays and watch the swimmers from different points along the route.
The Liffey is not quite an ordinary river as it passes through Dublin. In its lower reaches, its water level and currents are influenced by the tides of Dublin Bay.
The timing of the Liffey Swim therefore takes this phenomenon into account. The race is scheduled to coincide with the incoming tide, whose current helps the swimmers on their way.
That does not make the race an easy ride, however. Water temperatures generally range from 13 to 15°C in September, and competitors must contend with the current, the physical effort and navigating mid-river.
Taking part in the Liffey Swim also requires prior qualification. It is not, therefore, a tourist race that you can sign up for on a whim during a stay in Dublin.
The Liffey Swim has a particularly extraordinary distinction: the race has also become part of Irish art history.
In 1923, the Irish painter Jack B. Yeats, brother of the poet W.B. Yeats, created a canvas entitled The Liffey Swim. The artist did not simply depict the swimmers; he also placed the viewer among the crowd that had come to watch the competition.
The work would go on to have a remarkable history. Shown at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, at a time when the Games also included art competitions, it earned Jack B. Yeats a silver medal.
The painting is now held at the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. Travellers can therefore watch the Liffey Swim before discovering, in the museum, a depiction of the same race painted more than a century ago.
In 2026, the Liffey Swim will celebrate its 106th edition on Saturday 12 September.
This edition will enjoy particular visibility as it opens the new Dublin City Council Liffey Festival, held on 12 and 13 September around the river and the Docklands.
The race will begin at Rory O’More Bridge. Swimmers will then cross the heart of Dublin before reaching the finish at Custom House Quay, where the prize-giving ceremony will also take place.
The race is therefore one of the main highlights of this Liffey-focused weekend, which will also include water activities, boats, performances, music and various events along the quays.
Good news if you are simply passing through Dublin: you do not need to buy a ticket to watch the race. The Liffey Swim takes place in the heart of the city and can be viewed from the quays.
The starting area around Rory O’More Bridge is a good place to catch the opening minutes of the competition. You can also choose a spot further east along the river to see the swimmers pass beneath the bridges.
The area around Custom House Quay is particularly well suited to watching the finish and enjoying the atmosphere at the end of the race.
For a different experience, you can also walk along the Liffey during the competition. Naturally, it will not be possible to keep pace with the fastest swimmers for the entire route, but the walk lets you enjoy the atmosphere from several locations.
Just allow a little extra time: the Liffey Swim is a popular Dublin tradition, and the best viewing spots can attract large crowds.
Watching swimmers cross Dublin may make you want to try it for yourself. But the Liffey Swim is not an event that is freely open to the general public.
Participation is organised through the Leinster Open Sea open-water swimming calendar. Competitors must, in particular, meet the event’s qualification requirements and hold the necessary Swim Ireland membership.
For travellers visiting Ireland, the Liffey Swim should therefore be seen above all as a sporting event to watch, rather than a tourist activity to book.
Watching the Liffey Swim from the quays is free. No ticket is needed to come and watch the swimmers along the Liffey.
Taking part in the race, however, is subject to specific qualification and membership requirements. It is intended for swimmers competing on the relevant circuit and does not operate like a standard booking for a tourist activity.
The 106th edition of the Dublin City Liffey Swim is scheduled for Saturday 12 September 2026.
Information published for the event indicates an operating window between 11 am and 2 pm. Dublin City Council’s programme gives the race start time as 1.15 pm.
If you would like to watch the start or secure a good spot along the quays, plan to arrive early. Timings may also be affected by safety requirements and conditions on the river.
People generally come to Dublin to visit Trinity College, discover its pubs, wander around Temple Bar or explore its museums. The Liffey Swim tells a different story.
For a few hours, the race turns the river into a sporting arena and, above all, serves as a reminder that the Liffey is not simply part of Dublin’s scenery. For centuries, it has accompanied the history, trade and development of the capital.
Few events today offer the chance to see almost the same scene immortalised by Jack B. Yeats in 1923: swimmers in the Liffey and a crowd of curious onlookers leaning over the quays to cheer them on.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
