The World Surf League (WSL) has unveiled a significant overhaul of its 2026 Championship Tour (CT), coinciding with the 50th anniversary of professional surfing. The revamped tour features a 12-event schedule, an expanded women’s field, and a dramatic new format culminating in a high-stakes Pipe Masters finale. These changes aim to increase the consequence of every heat and elevate the sport’s premier competitive platform.
Key Takeaways
- Pipeline Finale: The iconic Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii will host the season-ending Pipe Masters, serving as the ultimate decider for the World Titles.
- Expanded Women’s Field: The women’s CT roster will grow from 18 to 24 surfers, offering more opportunities and global representation.
- New Format: Non-elimination rounds are removed, ensuring every heat carries significant weight. The season is divided into nine regular-season events, followed by two postseason showdowns, before the final at Pipeline.
- Cumulative Rankings: World Titles will be determined by a surfer’s best nine out of 12 results across the entire season, with the Pipe Masters offering 1.5 times the points of a standard event.
2026 Championship Tour Schedule
The 2026 CT will span nine months and visit nine countries, kicking off at Bells Beach, Australia, in early April and concluding in Hawaii in December.
- Stop 1: Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia (April 1-11)
- Stop 2: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia (April 17-27)
- Stop 3: Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia (May 2-12)
- Stop 4: Punta Roca, El Salvador (May 28-June 7)
- Stop 5: Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 12-20)
- Stop 6: Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (July 10-20)
- Stop 7: Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia (August 8-18)
- Stop 8: Cloudbreak, Fiji (August 25-September 4)
- Stop 9: Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA (September 11-20) – End of Regular Season
- Stop 10: Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE (October 14-18) – Start of Postseason
- Stop 11: Peniche, Portugal (October 22-November 1) – Postseason
- Stop 12: Banzai Pipeline, Hawaiʻi, USA (December 8-20) – Pipe Masters Finale
Evolved Competition Formats
All events will feature updated formats designed to maximize the impact of each heat. Non-elimination rounds have been removed, meaning every heat directly influences a surfer’s ranking.
Regular-Season Events (Stops 1-9):
- Men’s Field: 36 surfers (32 qualified, 2 season wildcards, 2 event wildcards).
- Women’s Field: 24 surfers (21 qualified, 2 season wildcards, 1 event wildcard).
- Formats include multi-round elimination structures tailored for men and women, with increasing stakes as the season progresses.
Postseason Events (Stops 10-11):
- Men’s Field: Reduced to 24 surfers.
- Women’s Field: Reduced to 16 surfers.
- These events will feature more intense elimination formats to narrow the field further.
Pipe Masters (Stop 12):
- The entire 2026 CT field (36 men, 24 women) will compete alongside event wildcards.
- The top eight men and women entering Pipeline will receive advanced seeding.
- With 15,000 points on offer, this event is crucial for determining World Champions.
A New Era for Professional Surfing
WSL CEO Ryan Crosby stated, "These changes reflect our commitment to honoring surfing’s legacy while continuing to shape its future as the sport enters its 50th year." The updated formats and the return of Pipeline as the season finale are designed to create higher stakes from day one, better serve athletes and fans, and lead professional surfing into its next chapter.
Sources
- 2026 Championship Tour Schedule and Formats, World Surf League.
- 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.
- World Surf League Releases 2026 Championship Tour Schedule and Formats, Surf News Network.
