Where to watch USA swimming national championships: Full schedule, channel, live stream, times for 2026 event

It's a big week for the sport of swimming — the 2026 USA swimming national championships are taking over Irvine, California, starting Tuesday.

This is the ultimate meet for the country's best swimmers every year. Though some top athletes will miss this week's event in preparation for the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, there will be no lack of elite talent in the pool at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

One of the biggest stories to follow this week is 29-year-old Caeleb Dressel as he works towards getting into form for a fourth Olympic run. Two-time Olympic champions Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh are also set to compete, with first Douglass then Walsh fresh off breaking the 50m freestyle world record nine days apart in June.

Who can make a splash at this year's championships?

Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 USA swimming national championships, including TV channel and streaming options for the annual meet.

Where to watch USA swimming national championships: TV channel, live stream

• TV channel: NBC (Highlights shows)
• Live stream: Peacock

The 2026 USA swimming national championships will be broadcast live on Peacock, with a highlights show available on NBC Saturday and Sunday. See the daily event schedule below. 

Peacock features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, the Tour de France and more.

USA swimming national championships dates, start time

• Date: Tuesday, July 28 - Saturday, Aug. 1
• Time: Noon ET (heats), 9 p.m. ET (finals)

The 2026 USA swimming national championships will take place over the course of five days, from Tuesday, July 28, through Saturday, Aug. 1. Heats will begin around noon ET, and finals will begin at 9 p.m. ET each day.

The meet will take place at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, California.

USA swimming national championships schedule

Live coverage on Peacock will start at 9 p.m. ET each day. The Saturday and Sunday broadcasts on NBC will begin at 2 p.m. ET.

Here's a look at the event schedule for each day of the meet:

Tuesday, July 28

Wednesday, July 29

Thursday, July 30

Friday, July 31

Saturday, August 1

*Starts at 2 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 2

*Starts at 2 p.m. ET