Source: Erasmus Williams FB
CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS — The **Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA)** has officially announced the return of the **Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim**, scheduled for March 28, 2026.
According to **PRNewswire-PRWeb**, the event is one of the Caribbean’s most iconic open-water endurance swims and will welcome former marathon swimmer and **Team GB Olympic open-water athlete Alice Dearing**, who will participate in the upcoming edition. The announcement was made during a press conference and media briefing held at the Malcolm Guishard Recreation Park, attended by government leaders, tourism stakeholders, event organisers, and representatives from regional and international media.
Spanning the famed **Narrows** between Nevis and St. Kitts, the annual **4.1-kilometre (2.5-mile)** swim is more than a sporting challenge. Set against a backdrop of turquoise seas, volcanic peaks, and palm-fringed coastlines, the Cross Channel Swim is a powerful test of endurance, discipline, and spirit, while also celebrating the islands’ natural beauty, culture, and sense of adventure. It remains a flagship sporting and tourism product for the island of Nevis.
**Andia Ravariere**, Chief Executive Officer of the Nevis Tourism Authority, highlighted the event’s role in advancing Nevis’ sports tourism strategy and strengthening its international profile.
> “The Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim is more than a sporting event; it is a bold statement about where Nevis is headed. This rare crossing between two beautiful islands is an experience very few destinations in the region can deliver. The event reflects our vision of excellence, strength, innovation, and resilience. This year, we are proud to welcome Alice Dearing, the first Black woman to represent Great Britain in Olympic swimming. Her participation places this event firmly on the global stage and reinforces Nevis as a serious and credible sports tourism destination,” Ravariere said.
Now more than **two decades strong**, the Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim has demonstrated steady growth in participation, reputation, and global recognition.
Special remarks were delivered by **Hon. Mark Brantley**, Premier of Nevis, who underscored the event’s national significance, its role in elevating Nevis’ global profile, and the pride it inspires among residents.
> “The annual Nevis to St. Kitts open-water swim is a unique sporting event that has earned a place on the bucket list of swimmers worldwide. Swimmers and their families travel from across the globe each year to test themselves against the warm Caribbean Sea. I look forward to this year’s staging of the event and warmly welcome swimming enthusiasts to experience the languid charm of my beloved Nevis,” Brantley said.
A highlight of the press conference was a special video message from **Olympian Alice Dearing**, whose participation brings historic and symbolic significance to the event. A **Tokyo 2021 Olympian**, multiple-time national champion, and the first Black woman to represent Great Britain in Olympic swimming, Dearing is among Britain’s most respected endurance and open-water swimmers. Since stepping back from elite competition, she has become a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion in swimming and open-water sport.
> “I love swims that feel like a real journey, and it doesn’t get more special than crossing between two islands in a place as beautiful as Nevis and St. Kitts. Warm water, incredible scenery, and that sense of adventure are what open-water swimming is all about. This is a bucket-list swim for so many people, and I’m really excited to be part of it,” Dearing said.