Budapest’s latest urban development project promises a sports complex unlike any other in the world. At the heart of the planned World Aquatics development will be a 50-metre competition pool that can be reconfigured into two 25-metre pools or adapted to host simultaneous men’s and women’s water polo matches. One of the most remarkable features of the complex will be a fully enclosed giant diving tower – a facility with no equivalent anywhere else in the world. Male athletes will be able to dive from a height of 27 metres.
The site also includes a historic assembly hall designed by Ignác Alpár, protected as a listed heritage building, which will be carefully restored and incorporated into the new complex. The development will also feature a combined student residence and hotel to accommodate scholarship recipients of World Aquatics (WA). The project is closely connected to the new urban district planned around the former Láng Machine Factory site, a brownfield regeneration initiative that has been under development for the past two years.
The Global Home of Aquatic Sports Moves to Budapest
World Aquatics (formerly FINA) is the international governing body for aquatic sports, including swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming and open water swimming, representing more than 200 national federations. In 2023, the organisation decided to relocate its headquarters from Lausanne to Budapest, making the Hungarian capital the new global centre of aquatic sports.
The estimated investment value of the project is HUF 150 billion. In an earlier interview with Index , WA President Husain Al-Musallam explained that the project is a joint commitment between World Aquatics and the Hungarian Government, although the exact financial structure has not been disclosed. He confirmed, however, that the land has been provided by the Hungarian state.
In return, World Aquatics has committed to ensuring that at least half of the employees working at its Budapest headquarters will be Hungarian.
A sports executive emphasised that the new facility will serve not only elite athletes but also inspire future generations—encouraging young people to discover and pursue aquatic sports.
According to the current schedule, the aquatic sports complex is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2028. However, World Aquatics will begin relocating parts of its operations to Budapest as early as next year. The new sports complex, spanning 8.5 hectares, will already serve as the main operational hub for the 2027 World Aquatics Championships. Although the Duna Arena will remain the primary competition venue, the event itself will be coordinated from the federation’s new headquarters.
A World-Class Sports Centre Is Coming to Budapest
The privately funded development is led by Southblaze Ltd., which has envisioned a building complex worthy of serving as the international headquarters of aquatic sports. Covering nearly 20,000 square metres, the development will include a world-class training centre, athlete accommodation, office facilities, and the new headquarters of World Aquatics. From here, the organisation will oversee the global administration of swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming and open water swimming.
Budapest is a true sporting capital, and Hungary has long been recognised as a sporting nation. We have achieved outstanding results throughout Olympic history, particularly in swimming. Hungary is the fourth most successful swimming nation of all time—effectively third, considering East Germany no longer exists. Only the United States and Australia rank ahead of us in Olympic swimming history, while in water polo we remain the most successful nation ever, with nine Olympic gold medals.
Gergely Gulyás, Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, told Index that another key objective of the government is to attract even more international sporting events to Budapest.
“This benefits the city, the country, tourism and the economy alike. Following the International Judo Federation, the International Canoe Federation and the International Teqball Federation, one of the world’s largest—if not the largest—international sports organisations, World Aquatics with its 210 member federations, will also establish its headquarters in Budapest.”
Gulyás also highlighted that the new facility will be much more than a swimming complex. It will include residential accommodation capable of hosting approximately 150 people. According to the minister, it will become a sports centre that not only the residents of Budapest’s 13th District but the entire capital can be proud of—and one that will also be accessible to the public.
The minister noted that demand for swimming facilities continues to grow across Hungary, while the number of suitable pools remains limited, making the construction of such a modern centre particularly important. Built on a revitalised brownfield site with carefully considered flood protection measures, the development will support both recreational and elite sports while also serving as the headquarters of one of the world’s largest international sports organisations.
Where Sport, Architecture and Innovation Meet
Southblaze Ltd. aims to create a timeless, multifunctional complex that reflects Hungary’s rich sporting heritage while embracing the innovative vision of World Aquatics. The development combines the values of the past with the technological possibilities of the present, all with a strong commitment to a sustainable future.
„Külöleges presztízs számunkra, hogy a World Aquatics nemzetközi központja Lausanne-t hagyja el hazánkért – ez hatalmas elismerés Magyarország számára” – nyilatkozta Zentai Péter, a Southblaze alapító tulajdonosa és ügyvezetője.
“It is a tremendous honour for us that World Aquatics has chosen to relocate its international headquarters from Lausanne to Hungary. This is an extraordinary recognition for our country,” said Péter Zentai, Founder and Managing Director of Southblaze.
The agreement on the relocation was signed by the Hungarian Government and World Aquatics in 2023, together with the approval of the original concept design. Southblaze has since reimagined the initial plans, particularly the building’s façade, replacing the previously proposed LED solution with a more contemporary architectural concept that better reflects Hungary’s architectural heritage.
“This investment is far more than a real estate development—it is a shared vision that brings together sport, architecture and value creation,” said Zsanett Rózsahegyi, Project Director of Láng District. Beyond its importance as a major achievement in sports diplomacy, the development also represents significant economic value. Budapest has already hosted numerous prestigious international aquatic events, but this project will establish the city as the global centre for the governance of aquatic sports.
One of the project’s most distinctive features is that the new World Aquatics headquarters will be built in Budapest’s 13th District as an integral part of the Láng District development, also led by Southblaze. The headquarters will be surrounded by an approximately two-hectare public park, framed by modern, sustainable residential buildings and office spaces. The new district is based on the concept of the “15-minute city”, ensuring that all essential services are within easy walking distance. Sales of the residential units are expected to begin later this year.
László György: Hungary Will Be Among Europe’s Top Five by 2030
László György, Government Commissioner responsible for economic strategy, also spoke to Index.
We are building a country that, by 2030, will be among the five best places in Europe to live, work and build a future. An important part of this vision is preserving our historic buildings, restoring them, integrating them into their surroundings and giving them new purpose. Equally important is preserving the order and peace of our everyday lives.
He added that “sport and investments related to sport contribute to these goals in a uniquely synergistic way.”
The new World Aquatics headquarters in Budapest is far more than another landmark sports investment. It is also a symbolic milestone, demonstrating that Hungary is not only a host for the world’s major aquatic events but also an active force shaping the future of international aquatic sports.
The development brings together the area’s industrial heritage with the principles of sustainable urban regeneration while providing fresh momentum for both Hungarian sport and the national economy. If construction proceeds according to schedule, Budapest will soon emerge not only as a landmark city on the banks of the Danube, but also as one of the world’s leading centres of international aquatic sport.