The World Surf League (WSL) has announced significant changes to its Championship Tour (CT) format for the 2026 season, marking a pivotal shift in professional surfing. The iconic Pipeline will return as the season-ending event, while the controversial Final Five format has been scrapped, responding to feedback from surfers and fans alike.
Key Takeaways
- Pipeline will be the final event of the season, awarding 15,000 points.
- The season will start in April in Australia and end in December in Hawaii.
- The mid-season cut has been softened, allowing more surfers to compete.
- The women’s field will expand from 18 to 24 competitors.
- Non-elimination rounds will be eliminated, increasing the stakes for every heat.
New Championship Tour Format
The 2026 CT will feature a total of 12 events, beginning in Australia and culminating at Pipeline in Hawaii. The season will run from April to December, with the following schedule:
- Bells Beach, Australia
- Margaret River, Australia
- Snapper Rocks, Australia
- Punta Roca, El Salvador
- Saquarema, Brazil
- Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
- Teahupo’o, Tahiti
- Cloudbreak, Fiji
- Lower Trestles, California, USA
- Surf Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Peniche, Portugal
- Pipe Masters, Hawaii, USA
Changes to the Competition Structure
The new format will consist of nine regular-season events, where surfers will accumulate points based on their best seven results. After these events, the field will be narrowed down to 24 men and 16 women for two postseason events, which will help determine seeding for the final event at Pipeline.
- Final Rankings: The overall rankings will be based on the best nine results out of 12 events, ensuring that every performance counts.
- Increased Stakes: The Pipe Masters will now be worth 15,000 points, making it the most critical event of the season.
- Elimination Rounds: The removal of non-elimination rounds means that every heat will result in a surfer being eliminated, raising the intensity of competition.
Feedback and Future Directions
WSL CEO Ryan Crosby emphasized that these changes are a direct response to feedback from surfers and fans. The decision to return to Pipeline as the season finale reflects the wave’s historical significance in the sport and aims to enhance the competitive experience.
Crosby stated, "We were listening to surfer feedback, to fan feedback – we spent a lot of time actually talking to the surfers."
Conclusion
As the WSL prepares for its 2026 season, the changes promise to create a more dynamic and engaging Championship Tour. With the return of Pipeline as the season’s grand finale and a revamped competition structure, the league aims to honor the sport’s rich history while paving the way for its future. Surfers and fans alike are eager to see how these changes will unfold in the upcoming season, marking a new era in professional surfing.
Sources
- [World Surf League admits horrible mistake, drops "final five" and moves Pipeline back to season ender in ’26!
- BeachGrit](https://beachgrit.com/2025/05/world-surf-league-admits-horrible-mistake-drops-final-five-and-moves-pipeline-back-to-season-ender/), BeachGrit.
- Pipeline to return as WSL finale with one-day decider scrapped for 2026 | Surfing, The Guardian.
- World Surf League Scraps Final 5 Format, Will End Season at Pipeline in 2026, The Inertia.
- Breaking: Pipeline To Return As Final CT Stop For 2026, While Mid-Year Cut And WSL Finals Will Depart, Stab Mag.
