WSL Unveils 2026/27 Challenger Series and New QS 6,000 International Events

The World Surf League announces the 2026/27 Challenger Series schedule and the introduction of new QS 6,000 International events, outlining the pathway to the 2027 Championship Tour.

WSL Unveils 2026/27 Challenger Series and New QS 6,000 International Events

The World Surf League (WSL) has announced its 2026/27 Challenger Series schedule, featuring five events across five countries. Alongside this, a new category of Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 International events has been introduced. These competitions will serve as the primary pathway for surfers aiming to qualify for the elite 2027 Championship Tour.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026/27 Challenger Series will consist of five events from July 2026 to March 2027.
  • New QS 6,000 International events offer additional opportunities for surfers to earn points.
  • The top 10 men and top 6 women from the Challenger Series will qualify for the 2027 Championship Tour.

2026/27 Challenger Series Schedule

The Challenger Series (CS) is a crucial proving ground for surfers aspiring to join the Championship Tour (CT). For the upcoming season, the CS will span five events across diverse locations:

  • Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: July 12 - 18, 2026
  • Huntington Beach, California, USA: July 27 - August 2, 2026
  • São Sebastião, Brazil: September 26 - October 3, 2026
  • Ericeira, Portugal: October 6 - 12, 2026
  • Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia: March 1 - 7, 2027

Athletes from the seven WSL Regions will compete, with the highest-ranked surfers earning their spots on the 2027 CT. Travis Logie, WSL Senior Tour Manager for the Challenger Series, expressed excitement about the talent emerging and the added opportunities provided by the new QS events.

New QS 6,000 International Events

Introduced for 2026, the QS 6,000 International (QS 6,000 INTL) events will award 6,000 ranking points and be open to international competitors. These events are designed to provide more opportunities for surfers to gain points towards both their Challenger Series rankings and their Regional QS rankings. Three events have been confirmed for 2026:

  • Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: September 14 - 20, 2026
  • Cloud 9, Siargao, Philippines: October 16 - 25, 2026
  • Jinzun Harbor, Taitung County, Taiwan: November 14 - 22, 2026

Will Hayden-Smith, Director of Regional Tours, highlighted the significance of these new events, stating they offer Challenger Series surfers a chance to compete in new locations and provide Regional QS competitors a taste of CS-caliber events.

Additionally, a QS 6,000 Regional event is tentatively scheduled for the January Pipe permit window (January 29 - February 8, 2027), aiming to create a healthier qualification ecosystem for the region.

Sources