A global “Oceanman” event, the world’s largest open-water swimming franchise, is set to take place in Maafushi island of Kaafu atoll, marking the biggest sea swimming competition ever held in the Maldives and a major opportunity for the country to advance in this field.

The Oceanman global event in Maafushi will run from 10 – 11 April 2026 , with registration having opened in October.

The competition will feature six swimming categories. The youngest participants will compete in the Ocean Kids category, which includes age groups under-9, under-11, under-13, and under-15. The Junior category is designated for competitors aged 15 to 19.

The event also includes a category for swimmers over 70, while the Masters category allows participants aged 20 to 69 to compete across multiple age groups.

The top 10 swimmers from each age group will qualify for the Oceanman World Championship. Swim Maldives has announced that the top three swimmers from each age group, along with the top three swimmers overall, will be selected, creating a major opportunity for Maldivian athletes to showcase their talent on a global stage.

Oceanman Global, established 10 years ago, is the world’s first open-water swimming competition to operate on a franchise model. Its franchise events take place annually in 26 countries, and each of the 38 races attracts more than 1,500 to 2,000 swimmers.