The World Aquatics Championships (WCH) Arena in Kallang is now scheduled to reopen in the second quarter of 2027, a national agency announced on October 7. Sport Singapore (SportSG) attributed the delay from the original reopening planned for the second quarter of 2026 to additional reinforcement work needed after unforeseen ground conditions were discovered during ongoing construction.
The facility, constructed adjacent to Leisure Park Kallang mall and initially opened for public use at the end of 2025, hosted the swimming and artistic swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships earlier that year. It underwent closure in January 2026 for enhancement works intended to meet regulatory requirements and facilitate its extended use as a community sports venue.
SportSG reported that engineering assessments conducted in the first quarter of 2026 revealed ground settlement issues attributed to the underlying soft marine clay. Subsequent technical studies concluded that foundation reinforcement was necessary to ensure the long-term structural integrity of the pools. The agency emphasized that completing these reinforcement efforts is crucial to guaranteeing the safety of facility users.
Work on strengthening the arena’s foundation is currently underway, with SportSG collaborating closely with contractors and relevant authorities to meet safety standards and complete the project. Once reopened, the WCH Arena is expected to serve as a key venue for both community activities and major aquatics competitions.
The decision to retain and continue using the arena was confirmed following a feasibility study, with then Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo stating in October 2025 that the facility would remain operational for national athletes and the public through at least 2030. The WCH Arena will complement existing ActiveSG swimming facilities and be available for public use and national team training.
Looking ahead, the arena may host future regional events such as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and ASEAN Para Games during Singapore’s role as host country in 2029. Nearby, the OCBC Aquatic Centre, which seats 3,000 spectators, is also positioned to accommodate international competitions, including the World Para Swimming Championships.
The WCH Arena is equipped with Olympic-size competition and training pools and features the same red OSB11 starting blocks that were used at the Paris 2024 Olympics.