Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel and Kaylee McKeown are just some of the Olympic gold medallists in action at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest this month. Better known as the FINA World Championships to some, it's the biggest swimming, diving and water polo event in the world outside the Olympics, so read on as we explain how to watch a 2022 World Aquatics Championships live stream wherever you are right now – with free coverage available around the world.
Dates: Saturday, June 18 - Sunday, July 3
Host city: Budapest, Hungary
FREE live streams: 9Now (opens in new tab) (AU) | BBC iPlayer (opens in new tab) (UK)
US stream: Peacock TV (opens in new tab) / Olympic Channel via Sling TV discount (opens in new tab) or FREE fuboTV trial (opens in new tab)
Watch anywhere: try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free (opens in new tab)
Yet another slice of history beckons for Ledecky, one of the greatest swimmers of all time. If she takes gold in the 800m freestyle, she could go down as the first swimmer ever to win the same event at five consecutive World Championships. Home favorite Katinka Hosszú is chasing the same dream, having won the previous four 200m and 400m individual medleys at the World Aquatics Championships.
Dressel is another athlete commanding attention, having won five golds at Tokyo 2020, and 13 golds in his previous two World Championships. The American will be defending his crown in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m fly and 100m fly. Rising stars David Popovici and Hwang Sunwoo are both eyeing an upset in the 100m freestyle, and they're set to go head-to-head in the 200m freestyle too.
On top of all that is the water polo tournament, diving competition, open water swimming and the artistic swimming too. So much to see.
Follow our guide as we explain all the ways to get a 2022 World Aquatics Championships live stream wherever you are - starting with how to watch the World Aquatics Championships for FREE in Canada, Australia and the UK
How to watch a World Aquatics Championships: live stream FREE in Canada
Watch a World Aquatics Championships live stream from outside your country
The World Aquatics Championships is a global event, and there should be a way to watch the swimming no matter where you are. But if you're currently abroad and struggling to tune in - or if you just want the comfort and language of your home nation's coverage - then geo-restrictions may stand in your way of getting a World Aquatics Championships live stream.
That's where the broadcaster prevents you from watching your usual feed from abroad. It's a common problem for sports fans all over the world. By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's back at home.
Use a VPN to watch a World Aquatics Championships live stream from anywhere
How to use a VPN for the World Aquatics Championships
Using a VPN to watch the World Aquatics Championships free on 9Now is as easy as one-two-three...
1. Download and install a VPN - as we say, our top choice is ExpressVPN
2. Connect to the appropriate server location - open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select the appropriate location
3. Go to the broadcaster's live stream - so if you're from Australia, just head to the 9Now streaming service (opens in new tab)
How to watch World Aquatics Championships: live stream for FREE in Australia
How to watch World Aquatics Championships: live stream swimming for FREE in the UK
How to watch 2022 World Aquatics Championships: live stream swimming in the US without cable
More ways to watch the 2022 World Aquatics Championships online
In some countries, select events are being live streamed on a PPV basis on the FINA Facebook page (opens in new tab).
Unfortunately, FINA hasn't provided a full breakdown of the events that will be live streamed there, and where they'll be available.
Some of the scheduled events, for instance, expressly state that viewers won't be able to tune in from Brazil, Guam, Puerto Rico, United States, Virgin Islands.
Prices appear to vary from £2.99 for morning sessions, to £3.99 to watch evening sessions, which seems extremely expensive compared to mainstream broadcasters and streaming services.
As we say, there aren't many places around the world where the 2022 World Aquatics Championships isn't being covered by a big broadcaster.
World Aquatics Championships schedule and events
- Artistic Swimming - June 17-25
- Diving - June 26 - July 3
- Open Water - June 26-30
- Swimming - June 18-25
- Water Polo - June 20 - July 3