One Year to Go Until the Start of the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest
One year before the start of the 2027 World Aquatics Championships, the event’s official branding was unveiled at a press conference held in the impressive setting of the MVM Dome, which will host the swimming competitions and the water polo tournament.
Budapest will become the first city in the history of aquatic sports to achieve a “hat-trick” by hosting the World Aquatics Championships for the third time. Following the editions in 2017 and 2022, the world’s best athletes in swimming, water polo, open water swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and high diving will once again gather in the Hungarian capital in 2027. This will also be the first edition of the championships to serve as an Olympic qualification event, raising the stakes of every competition even further.
After a retrospective of the most memorable moments from the previous two championships, Attila Kálnoki-Kiss, State Secretary for Sport, who for the first time in his new role moved from the journalists’ section to the speakers’ table, emphasized in his opening remarks that Hungary had already proven during the previous two championships that it is capable of organizing the world’s largest sporting events. At the same time, he stressed:
“One of the Hungarian government’s primary objectives in sports funding is transparency, ensuring that organizations delivering real performance in both elite and recreational sports receive support. This approach also applies to the organization of major international sporting events. In the future, the government will support such events only if they can be delivered cost-effectively, transparently, and according to a plan that places continuous emphasis on revenue generation. This principle must also apply to the organization of the 2027 World Aquatics Championships.”
Representing World Aquatics, Executive Director Brent Nowicki attended the press conference and stated:
“It is wonderful to be here at the MVM Dome and experience together the unveiling of the official logo for the 2027 World Championships—this truly makes it feel real how close we are to a very special event. Budapest and its organizers have repeatedly demonstrated that they know exactly what makes a World Aquatics Championships unique: world-class venues, an incredible atmosphere, and the passion of the fans. As World Aquatics relocates its headquarters to Budapest, our partnership with the city is stronger than ever. Athletes love competing here, and we are excited to welcome the world’s best back next year on this worthy stage. The MVM Dome also offers a perfect preview of what it will be like to compete in front of 40,000 spectators at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.”
Sándor Wladár, co-chair of the organizing committee and president of the Hungarian Swimming Association, also highlighted what a World Championships can offer future generations.
“In recent years, Hungarian swimming has given the country countless unforgettable moments. World champions, Olympic champions, world records, and new role models have emerged. But equally important is the strong grassroots foundation behind these successes, consisting of hundreds of clubs and thousands of young athletes. The Hungarian Swimming Association’s most important mission is to provide these young people with a future, motivation, and role models. A home World Championships always means more than just a competition—it means inspiration and new dreams.”
Norbert Madaras, president of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation, spoke about the enormous advantage of home support, especially in an arena the size of the MVM Dome.
“At the recent European Championships in Belgrade, we experienced firsthand what home advantage meant for the Serbian team. We hope to experience something similar ourselves—and, of course, achieve a similar result. The 2017 and 2022 World Championships showed the unique atmosphere Hungarian fans can create. Budapest27 represents a tremendous opportunity to perhaps turn the world and European championship silver medals of the past two years into gold. Although, I should add, we would already sign up for reaching the finals today, as that would also secure Olympic qualification.”
The presentation then moved on to unveiling the official logo and slogan of the 2027 World Championships: “Make Waves!” Following this, Dávid Szántó, Chief Operating Officer of the organizing committee, briefly explained the message behind the wave-inspired visual identity.
“The wave is, of course, a symbol of water, but it means much more than that. The wave represents the fans. It represents community. It symbolizes the power created when thousands of people move together for a shared experience. A wave always moves forward, gains new momentum, and reaches new people. Sport works in exactly the same way: one success can inspire, one World Championships can launch new generations, and a shared experience can become a lifelong memory.”
Szántó also highlighted the two main venues of the championships, as both the MVM Dome and the Duna Arena will play central roles in the event.
“Budapest27 builds on the legacy of previous World Championships, and one of the most important elements of that legacy is the Duna Arena, which remains the home of Hungarian swimming, a lasting heritage of the 2017 and 2022 World Championships, and one of the world’s finest aquatic venues.
At the same time, the 2027 World Championships showcase a new opportunity: bringing aquatic sports closer to even more people. The MVM Dome offers greater spectator capacity, creates a new atmosphere, and provides an environment where sport, spectacle, and fan experience elevate competition to a new level. The MVM Dome is not about replacing the past, but about building on previous successes to create new experiences for athletes, fans, and the entire aquatic sports community.”
According to Mátyás Falvai, CEO of the National Event Management Agency:
“We have created a dynamic event brand for the 2027 World Aquatics Championships that captures the very essence of aquatic sports while also reflecting Budapest’s unique relationship with water.”
The distinguished athletes invited to the press event, including women’s national water polo team captain Rita Keszthelyi and swimming star Dávid Betlehem, confirmed that they are already eagerly awaiting the opportunity to compete in front of ten thousand fans.
“I have experienced many incredible things throughout my career, but playing in front of this many Hungarian fans will be a first for us,” said the Olympic bronze medalist, who also competed at the 2017 and 2022 World Championships in Budapest.
Dávid Betlehem openly stated that his goal is to win an Olympic medal in Los Angeles—not only in open water swimming, but also in the pool.
“I think the World Championships in Budapest will be a perfect dress rehearsal for that. And I can’t wait to finally swim in front of so many people cheering us on.” The official dates of the 2027 World Aquatics Championships are June 26 to July 18, 2027. Swimming and water polo events will be held at the MVM Dome, while diving and artistic swimming competitions will take place at the Duna Arena. The venues for open water swimming and high diving will be finalized in the near future.
