Paris opened three supervised swimming sites in the Seine on Saturday, July 4, 2026, marking the second consecutive year of public access to the river for swimming. The free swimming areas are located near City Hall, the Eiffel Tower, and in eastern Paris.

The swimming areas will remain open through the summer season, with their operation dependent on daily water quality testing and weather conditions. Lifeguards supervise all three sites.

The Paris 2024 Olympics prompted a multibillion-euro cleanup of the Seine, which allowed the river to serve as a venue for swimming and triathlon competitions during the games. This cleanup included upgrades to the sewer system and new infrastructure for rainwater storage. Public swimming in the Seine had been prohibited for approximately a century prior to 2024 due to poor water quality. In previous years, public swimming was available during the summer in a canal in northeastern Paris.

Stewart Talbot, a tourist visiting Paris from Melbourne, Australia, for a week, described his experience. "It's amazing to be swimming in the Seine while looking at the Eiffel Tower," Talbot said. He added, "Maybe it's not as good as the sea in Australia, but it's better than our rivers."

Last summer, some swimming days in the Seine were canceled because of heavy rain. Heavy rainfall can increase pollution upstream in the river. Each site manages its capacity; for instance, the Grenelle swimming site has a maximum capacity of 200 people. Clémence Donazzan, the deputy manager of the Grenelle site, confirmed the capacity, stating, "The maximum capacity here is 200 people." Officials at the Grenelle site use a waiting system at the entrance and monitor the number of swimmers in real time.

Hermine Jegou, 19, noted the diverse group utilizing the facilities. "It's great because it's such a mix of people," Jegou said. She added, "I love that everyone can get into the water — grandmothers, children — it's just really nice." The opening of supervised swimming sites in the Seine for a second consecutive year represents a continued effort to integrate the river into public recreational life, following extensive cleanup efforts spurred by the Paris 2024 Olympics. The development signifies a shift from a century-long ban on swimming due to water quality issues. The ongoing availability of these sites, subject to daily water quality assessments, underscores the city's commitment to maintaining ecological improvements and providing free public access to the river. The project provides new recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors, while the operational challenges, such as cancellations due to heavy rain and managing capacity at sites like Grenelle, illustrate the complexities of maintaining such facilities in an urban river environment.