| Host city | Seville |
|---|---|
| Country |  Spain |
| Sport | 5 |
| Events | 51 |
| Opening | 19 August 1997 |
| Closing | 24 August 1997 |
| Main venue | Centro Deportivo San Pablo |
| 1997 European Aquatics Championships | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Freestyle | ||
| 50 m | men | women |
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| 400 m | men | women |
| 800 m | women | |
| 1500 m | men | |
| Backstroke | ||
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| Breaststroke | ||
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| Butterfly | ||
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| Individual medley | ||
| 200 m | men | women |
| 400 m | men | women |
| Freestyle relay | ||
| 4×100 m | men | women |
| 4×200 m | men | women |
| Medley relay | ||
| 4×100 m | men | women |
The 1997 LEN European Aquatics Championships were held in Seville, Spain from Tuesday 19 August to Sunday 24 August, in the 50 m pool of the Centro Deportivo San Pablo. The 23rd edition of the event was organised by the LEN. Besides swimming there were titles contested in open water swimming, diving, synchronized swimming (women) and – for the last time – water polo.
The swimming championships resulted in two European records: Ágnes Kovács on the women's 200 m breaststroke and Russia in the men's 4×100 m freestyle relay. Alexander Popov returned in competition after being stabbed down in Moscow, shortly after the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.