The World Surf League (WSL) has announced significant changes to its 2026 Championship Tour (CT), coinciding with the 50th anniversary of professional surfing. The revamped tour will feature 12 events across nine countries, culminating in a high-stakes finale at the iconic Banzai Pipeline. Key updates include a new cumulative rankings format, an expanded women’s field, and the removal of non-elimination rounds to increase the consequence of every heat.
Key Takeaways
- Pipeline Finale: The Pipe Masters returns as the season-ending event, offering 1.5 times the points of a standard event and determining the World Champions.
- New Format: The "Final Five" format is eliminated. World Titles will be decided by a surfer’s best nine out of 12 event results.
- Expanded Women’s Field: The women’s CT field grows from 18 to 24 surfers.
- No Mid-Season Cut: The tour will feature nine regular-season events, followed by two postseason showdowns, before the finale at Pipeline.
- Increased Stakes: All heats will carry direct consequences for rankings, with non-elimination rounds removed.
A New Era for Professional Surfing
Celebrating 50 years of professional surfing, the 2026 WSL Championship Tour will usher in a new era with a revised schedule and competitive format. The tour will span nine months and visit 12 iconic locations across nine countries, offering a diverse range of wave conditions. WSL CEO Ryan Crosby stated that these changes aim to honor surfing’s legacy while shaping its future, ensuring higher stakes from the season’s outset.
2026 Championship Tour Schedule
The 12-stop schedule kicks off at Bells Beach, Australia, in early April and concludes with the Pipe Masters in Hawaii in December:
- Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia (April 1-11)
- Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia (April 17-27)
- Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia (May 2-12)
- Punta Roca, El Salvador (May 28-June 7)
- Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 12-20)
- Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (July 10-20)
- Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia (August 8-18)
- Cloudbreak, Fiji (August 25-September 4)
- Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA (September 11-20) – End of Regular Season
- Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE (October 14-18) – Start of Postseason
- Peniche, Portugal (October 22-November 1) – Postseason
- Banzai Pipeline, Hawaiʻi, USA (December 8-20) – Pipe Masters Finale
Evolved Competition Formats
The 2026 season introduces a revamped format designed to elevate the drama and consequence of every heat. Non-elimination rounds have been removed, meaning every heat directly impacts a surfer’s ranking. The tour will feature nine regular-season events, followed by two postseason events in Abu Dhabi and Portugal, before the grand finale at Pipeline.
Regular Season (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)
Postseason (Stops 10-11):
- Field reduced to 24 men and 16 women.
- Surfers’ best seven of nine regular-season results count towards qualification.
Pipe Masters Finale (Stop 12):
- The full CT fields from the start of the season rejoin the postseason competitors.
- Awards 15,000 points (1.5x a standard event).
- Top eight surfers entering Pipeline receive advanced seeding.
- World Titles are determined by a surfer’s best nine of 12 results across the entire season.
Pipeline’s Pivotal Role
The return of the Pipe Masters as the season finale marks a significant shift, placing the ultimate test of skill and courage at the forefront of the World Title race. With increased points and advanced seeding for top contenders, the event promises dramatic conclusions and historic moments. This move underscores the WSL’s commitment to honoring surfing’s heritage while pushing the sport forward.
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.
- New path to surfing World Title: Major WSL changes coming in 2026, FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
- Breaking: World Surf League Unveils Game-Changing 2026 Schedule, SURFER Magazine.
![Surfers [Picklum] and [Dora] win WSL Finals at Cloudbreak.](https://bombasurf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/f08fcebcthumbnail-300x169.jpeg)
