The Santorini Experience is back for 2026, running October 16 to 18, and it brings one of the most visually striking open water swimming races in the world back to the caldera. Athletes dive in from the volcanic island itself, swimming through the waters that frame one of Greece's most iconic landscapes.
The lineup this year is genuinely elite. German Olympic champion and world champion Leonie Beck will be on the start line, alongside Italian silver world champion Mario Sanzullo, European champion Barbara Pozzobon, and Hungarian Olympic champion and silver world champion Anna Olasz. That kind of field rarely shares the same race, let alone one set against an active volcanic backdrop.
Beyond the swim, the event also features running routes that wind through Santorini's volcanic terrain, making use of the island's dramatic elevation and geography in a way few athletic events anywhere in the world can match.
The Santorini Experience has built a reputation as a race where the setting is as much a draw as the competition itself. Starting from the volcano and finishing through caldera waters puts it in a category of its own among open water events on the international calendar.
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The Santorini Experience is back for 2026, running October 16 to 18, and it brings one of the most visually striking ope...
Written on 09/27/2026