The World Surf League (WSL) has announced a significant overhaul of its Championship Tour (CT) format, set to debut in 2026. Key changes include the elimination of the controversial "Final 5" one-day decider, the return of the iconic Pipe Masters in Hawaii as the season finale, and a shift to a cumulative rankings system to crown world champions. These adjustments aim to enhance competitive integrity and fan engagement.
Key Takeaways
- The "Final 5" format, which determined world champions in a single-day surf-off, has been scrapped.
- The Pipe Masters at Pipeline, Hawaii, will return as the season-ending event for both men and women, carrying increased point value.
- World Champions will now be decided based on a cumulative points system across the entire season.
- The 2026 CT season will run from April to December, starting in Australia.
- Non-elimination rounds will be removed from all CT events, increasing the stakes from the outset.
- The women’s CT field will expand from 18 to 24 surfers.
Pipeline Returns As Grand Finale
In a move widely celebrated by surfers and fans, the Pipe Masters will once again serve as the climax of the Championship Tour. This marks a return to tradition, as Pipeline previously hosted the men’s season finale until 2019. For the first time, it will also be the season-ending event for the women. The Pipe Masters will award 15,000 points, 1.5 times more than a standard CT event, making it the most crucial stop on the tour.
WSL CEO Ryan Crosby emphasized that the decision was heavily influenced by surfer and fan feedback, stating, "Pipeline has always held a special place in surfing history, and our fans have made it clear they want to see our sport’s most critical moments unfold there."
Format Revamp And Schedule
The 2026 CT season will feature a 12-stop schedule, commencing in Australia in April and concluding in Hawaii in December. The new format introduces a multi-stage competition:
- Regular Season (9 events): The tour begins with 36 men and 24 women competing. Surfers will carry their best seven of nine results into the next stage.
- Postseason (2 events): The field will be narrowed to 24 men and 16 women for two "postseason" events (Surf Abu Dhabi and Peniche, Portugal). These events will determine seeding for the Pipe Masters.
- Pipe Masters (Final Event): The full CT fields from the start of the season will rejoin for the Pipe Masters. The top eight men and women heading into Pipeline will receive deeper seeding in the draw.
World Titles will be determined by a surfer’s best nine of 12 results across the entire season. Additionally, all CT events will adopt a streamlined format, eliminating non-elimination rounds to ensure higher-stakes heats and optimal conditions.
Surfer And Fan Feedback Drives Change
The WSL stated that these significant changes were a direct response to feedback from athletes and the surfing community. The previous "Final 5" format, while intended to create a dramatic conclusion, often drew criticism for potentially devaluing a season-long performance. The return to a cumulative points system and the iconic Pipeline finale are expected to restore a sense of tradition and competitive fairness.
Former world champions like Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, and John John Florence have expressed enthusiasm for the new format, particularly the elevated role of Pipeline. Florence, a Pipeline local, noted, "Pipeline holds a legendary place in the world of surfing… I can’t wait to see the season end in Hawaii again."
2026 Championship Tour Schedule
- CT1: Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
- CT2: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia
- CT3: Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia
- CT4: Punta Roca, El Salvador
- CT5: Saquarema, Brazil
- CT6: Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
- CT7: Teahupo’o, Tahiti
- CT8: Cloudbreak, Fiji
- CT9: Lower Trestles, California, USA (End of regular season)
- CT10: Surf Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- CT11: Peniche, Portugal
- CT12: Pipe Masters, Hawai’i, USA (Season Finale)
These changes mark a pivotal moment for the WSL as it approaches its 50th year of professional surfing, aiming to deliver a more compelling and historically resonant competition for athletes and fans alike.
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 revamps Championship Tour format, putting Pipe Masters in the spotlight, NBC Sports.
- World Surf League Scraps Final 5 Format, Will End Season at Pipeline in 2026, The Inertia.
- World Surf League’s Championship Tour will end at Pipeline, Spectrum News.
