Chicago River Swim Resurrects the Chicago River Big Jump

Organizers of the 2026 Chicago River Swim increased the opportunity for people to get into the river this year by adding a "Big Jump" event to the weekend's suite of activities. The Big Jump was originated by Friends of the Chicago River and Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita who founded the splashy event in 2017 to change peoples' perception of the river and whether we have the right to swim in it. Federally approved water quality standards protect swimming for most reaches of the Chicago-Calumet River system.

“Resurrecting the Big Jump so that more people can participate is brilliant,” said Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River. “The more people we can get in the water, the more images there are shared round the world proving to the planet and the people who live here that our river is a sacred, valued, healthy, clean, natural resource that demands our care and advocacy for its protection and restoration. Not to mention that jumpers support A Long Swim and ALS research.

The Big Jump is Friday, September 18 and the Chicago River Swim is on Sunday, September 20. Friends is hosting a cheering section at The Jetty between Wells and Franklin on the Chicago Riverwalk.

“As scientists from University of Illinois Chicago Department of Public Health proved last year, the water is clean enough for swimming and Friends is dedicated to transforming this one day event into an everyday occurrence, just like we transformed the river.”

Photo credit: Dan Wendt