The World Surf League (WSL) has announced significant changes to its 2026 Championship Tour (CT) schedule and formats, marking the 50th year of professional surfing. The revamped tour will feature 12 events, an expanded women’s field, and a return to the iconic Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii as the season-ending finale.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 CT will feature 12 events, running from April to December.
- The season culminates at the Pipe Masters in Hawaii, with increased points on offer.
- The "Final Five" and "Mid-Season Cut" formats are eliminated.
- The women’s field expands to 24 surfers.
- All heats now carry significant consequence, with no non-elimination rounds.
2026 Championship Tour Schedule
The 2026 season kicks off in Australia with Bells Beach, followed by Margaret River and Snapper Rocks. The tour then heads to Punta Roca, El Salvador, and Saquarema, Brazil, before continuing to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, and the challenging waves of Teahupo’o, Tahiti, and Cloudbreak, Fiji. The final regular-season stop is Lower Trestles, California.
The tour then moves into its postseason phase with two events: Surf Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Peniche, Portugal. The season concludes with the highly anticipated Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii.
New Competitive Format
In a major shift, the WSL is moving away from the "Final Five" and "Mid-Season Cut" formats. Instead, the 2026 season will utilize a cumulative rankings system. The majority of the season will feature 36 men and 24 women. After the ninth stop, the field will narrow to 24 men and 16 women for the two postseason events.
Surfers will qualify for the postseason based on their best seven out of nine regular-season results. The overall World Champions will be determined by a surfer’s best nine out of 12 results across the entire season.
The Pipe Masters Finale
Returning as the ultimate season closer, the Pipe Masters will hold significant weight. It will award 15,000 points, 1.5 times that of a standard CT event, making it the most crucial stop for determining World Champions. The top eight men and women entering Pipeline will receive a competitive advantage with deeper seeding.
Expanded Women’s Field and Heat Significance
The women’s Championship Tour field will expand from 18 to 24 surfers in 2026, providing more opportunities and greater global representation. A key change across all events is the removal of non-elimination rounds. This means every heat, from the very first of the season, will have direct consequences on a surfer’s standing, increasing the stakes from day one.
A Nod to Legacy and Future
WSL CEO Ryan Crosby stated that these changes honor surfing’s legacy while shaping its future. The new format aims to create higher stakes, ensure every heat carries real consequence, and leverage iconic locations like Pipeline to better serve athletes and fans, leading the sport into its next chapter.
Sources
- World Surf League Releases 2026 Championship Tour Schedule and Formats, World Surf League.
- World Surf League Announces Return to Pipeline for Championship Tour Finale Starting in 2026, World Surf League.
- Breaking: World Surf League Unveils Game-Changing 2026 Schedule, SURFER Magazine.
