Muscovites will welcome summer 2026 by pools on barges, with artificial waves and “quiet zones” for work

An abnormally hot May in the capital accelerated the start of the beach season by almost two weeks. City authorities have expanded the network of outdoor swimming pools and public beaches, and Moscow has finally secured its status as a metropolis with a full-fledged summer resort infrastructure – from futuristic pontoons on the water to eco-beaches with digital monitoring of water quality.

The main project of the season was the “Summer in the Park” program. If last year there were 15 outdoor swimming pools in the city, then in the summer of 2026 their number increased to 30. The largest sites appeared in the Mitino and Khodynskoye Pole parks and on the territory of the renovated Moscow 850th Anniversary Park.

New city recreation areas operate using a “smart entry” system: visitors book time through the “Moscow Transport” and “My District” applications. The basic rate for a three-hour session includes a towel, lounge chair and access to contactless lockers with Face ID. One of the main technological innovations of the season was the automatic water climate control system: the temperature in the pools is maintained at about plus 29 degrees, regardless of the weather.

The Luzhniki aquatic complex and the recreation area near the Northern River Station traditionally remain among the flagship sites for summer recreation. In Luzhniki, for the season, special “quiet zones” 18+ appeared, where loud music and telephone conversations are prohibited. The format is aimed at visitors who combine relaxation by the water with remote work.

This year, at the Northern River Station, an additional floating pontoon with heated pools located directly in the waters of the Khimki Reservoir was put into operation. According to the organizers, the space should create the atmosphere of a cruise ship in the city center.

One of the most anticipated premieres of the season was “Port on ZIL” – a new beach and entertainment cluster on the site of a former industrial area. An artificial wave for surfing, a three-level swimming pool above the Moscow River and a promenade have opened here.

Another major new development has appeared in the area of ​​the Southern River Station in the Nagatinskaya floodplain. There was an open-air spa cluster with heated sand zones imitating the resorts of the Middle East, as well as open-air salt caves.

The experimental project of swimming pools on barges in the Moscow City area, first launched several years ago, was transferred to a permanent format in 2026. At the Mezhdunarodnaya pier there are three floating platforms with swimming pools and panoramic views of the business center.

For lovers of a more relaxing and natural holiday, the main destinations remain Strogino and Serebryany Bor. In the Stroginskaya floodplain, large-scale reclamation of the territory has been completed: instead of ordinary sand, white quartz screenings are used here, which practically does not generate dust. In addition, online water quality monitoring stations have been installed on the beaches – current data is available to visitors using QR codes.

An important trend of the season was the introduction of new service technologies. Robotic couriers have begun working on the beaches of the Northern River Station and in the recreation areas of the Dream Island, delivering drinks and food directly to the sun loungers. At the same time, the city abandoned traditional chlorination of swimming pools in favor of ozonation and ultraviolet water purification systems. Almost all large sites have coworking zones with enhanced Wi-Fi and charging stations built into the beach infrastructure.

The cost of visiting city pools on weekdays starts on average from 1–1.5 thousand rubles per session. Holidays in premium locations will cost 3.5–6 thousand rubles for a full day. Preferential visiting hours are provided for large families and Moskvich card holders.