Overview
- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit staged its 2026 launch at the Hard Rock Hotel New York on Thursday, May 14, with a red carpet, a VIP party and a surprise performance by Fetty Wap.
- Cover stars Tiffany Haddish, Alix Earle and Nicole Williams English led the arrivals, joining a high-profile guest list that included Olivia Dunne, Brooks Nader, Molly Sims and more.
- Editor in chief MJ Day honored rugby Olympian Ilona Maher as SI Swimsuit’s 2025 Rookie of the Year during the festivities.
- Tiffany Haddish’s cover was shot by James Macari in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Alix Earle’s by Ruven Afanador in Botswana, and Nicole Williams English’s by Ben Watts in Montauk, with Hilary Duff also a cover star from a South Caicos shoot.
- Launch-week programming continues with the SI Swimsuit Social Club at Spring Place, the issue is live online, and print copies roll out in select markets now with a nationwide release on May 26.