Dover Channel Swimming Festival. Monday 31^st August 2026 – 10am – 5pm. Dover Waterfront

The Port of Dover will join the Dover Lifeguard Club, Dover Town Council, the Channel Swimming Association, the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CS&PF) and creative arts organisation Future Foundry for a day of celebration to mark Gertrude Ederle becoming the first female to successfully swim the English Channel 100 years ago.

The official anniversary is today, 6^th August, but the event will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. It follows the 150^th anniversary of Captain Webb’s historic swim in 2025.

The day will kick off with free art workshops and storytelling with Future Foundry artists on the Clocktower Square from 10am and will end in spectacular fashion with a carnival procession across the Seafront and Marina Curve at 3.45pm (starting at the swimmer statues). Live music and presentations will continue until 5pm.

Dover Sea Sports Centre and the Dover Lifeguard Club will host a full day of swimming challenges, suitable for seasoned swimmers or those looking for a fun challenge, with registration taking place from 10.30am. Swimmers will receive a commemorative Gertrude Ederle swimming hat for participating. Registration details can be found here.

Julie Marson, Community Director at the Port of Dover said:

“We are delighted to be hosting a special festival here at the Port of Dover to celebrate the bravery and determination of Gertrude Ederle, who became the first female to swim the English Channel 100 years ago. Today marks exactly a century since she took on one of the most challenging stretches of water in the world, and she has inspired over 1000 women since then to follow in her footsteps. We will be marking the occasion on Monday 31^st August, joining our local partners for a day of fun across the Waterfront.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The Port of Dover is closing the gap every day between the UK and the world by connecting trade, travel, visitors and communities locally-globally, collaborating with local and international partners to create a more seamless, sustainable and tech-enabled port. 

• As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers. 

• Dover is also an award-winning cruise port, delivering world class travel and visitor experiences to over 20 cruise lines each year. With a growing and diversifying cargo business operating from state-of-the-art facilities, a new marina which is a major feature of the exciting waterfront development, and opportunities for further expansion in the future, Dover’s proud history dating back 400 years has a new modern twist.