Season Kick-Off in April 2026 to Feature Increased Women’s Field, Removal of Non-Elimination Rounds

“These changes reflect our commitment to honoring surfing’s legacy while continuing to shape its future as the sport enters its 50th year,” said Ryan Crosby, WSL CEO. “With the updated formats, we’ll see higher stakes from day one, with every heat carrying real consequence throughout the season. Combined with iconic locations, the expanded women’s field, and Pipeline as the pinnacle, we’re building a Tour that better serves our athletes and fans and leads the sport into its next chapter.”

Stop No. 1 – Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia: April 1 – 11
Stop No. 2 – Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: April 17 – 27
Stop No. 3 – Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia: May 2 – 12
Stop No. 4 – Punta Roca, El Salvador: May 28 – June 7
Stop No. 5 – Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: June 12 – 20
Stop No. 6 – Jeffreys Bay, South Africa: July 10 – 20
Stop No. 7 – Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia: August 8 – 18
Stop No. 8 – Cloudbreak, Fiji: August 25 – September 4
Stop No. 9 – Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA: September 11 – 20*
Stop No. 10 – Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE: October 14 – 18**
Stop No. 11 – Peniche, Portugal: October 22 – November 1
Stop No. 12 – Banzai Pipeline, Hawaiʻi, USA: December 8 – 20***

*Last regular-season event
**Start of postseason, reduced field
**Full CT fields rejoin postseason surfers to compete for Pipe Masters Titles

The majority of the season will feature 36 men and 24 women, with the Tour narrowing to 24 men and 16 women after Stop No. 9 for the two postseason events, Abu Dhabi and Portugal. A surfer’s best seven of nine results from the regular-season will count towards their qualification for the postseason, while the final season rankings, and ultimately the World Titles, will be determined by a surfer’s best nine of 12 results.

The cumulative full-season rankings that will determine the World Champions will be heightened by the season closer at Pipeline, where the full 2026 men’s and women’s CT fields from the start of the season will all compete. Already one of the most prestigious Titles in surfing, an increased relevance will be placed on the Pipe Masters. With 15,000 points on offer (1.5 times the amount of a standard CT event), and the top eight men and women heading into the event seeded deep in the draw, pivotal moments in the World Title race are all but ensured to take place at the sport’s most revered location.

A newly evolved Tour requires a reimagined format. The stakes will be raised from the very first heat of the 2026 season due to the removal of non-elimination rounds.

Differing formats will be utilized for the men’s and women’s fields for regular-season events, postseason events, and the Pipe Masters, as outlined below, but ultimately, every heat of every event will be of utmost importance to a surfer’s standing on the CT.

Regular-Season Events

The format for regular-season events, Stops No. 1-9, will include 32 qualified men, two men’s season wildcards, and two men’s event wildcards; and 21 qualified women, two women’s season wildcards, and one women’s event wildcard.

Men’s 36 Format

• Round 1 will feature four head-to-head heats, consisting of six seeded surfers [29-34], plus two Event Wildcards. Seeds 33-36 will be randomly selected to create different match-ups at each event throughout the season. Seeds 29-32 will be pre-seeded in their heats.
• Round 2 will feature 16 head-to-head heats, consisting of seeds 1-28 and the winners from Round 1. There will be four fixed-bracket heats; the four heat winners from Round 1 will face the top four seeds in the event. Winners will advance to Round 3.
• Round 3 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of the winners from Round 2.
• Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final will follow.

• Round 1 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of 14 seeded surfers [9-22], plus two Event Wildcards. Winners will advance into Round 2 on a fixed-bracket system.
• Round 2 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of seeds 1-8, and the winners from Round 1.
• Quarterfinals, Semifinals and the Final will follow.

The format for postseason events, Stops No. 10 and 11, will include 22 qualified men and 14 qualified women, along with two Event Wildcards in each field, per event.

Men’s 24 Format

• Round 1 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of 14 seeded surfers [9-22], plus two Event Wildcards. Winners will advance into Round 2 on a fixed-bracket system.
• Round 2 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of seeds 1-8, and the winners from Round 1 on a fixed-bracket system.
• Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final will follow.

• Round 1 will feature eight head-to-head heats with no pre-seeding.
• Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final will follow.

The format for the Pipe Masters, Stop No. 12, will include 34 qualified men and 22 qualified women, along with two Event Wildcards in each field.

Men’s 36 Format

• Round 1 will feature four head-to-head heats, consisting of six seeded surfers [29-34], plus two Event Wildcards. Seeds 33-36 will be randomly selected. Seeds 29-32 will be pre-seeded in their heats. Winners will advance into Round 2 on a fixed-bracket system.
• Round 2 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of the winners of Round 1 and twelve pre-seeded surfers, seeds 17-28. Winners will advance into Round 3 on a fixed-bracket system.
• Round 3 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of the winners from Round 2 and eight pre-seeded surfers, seeds 9-16. Winners will advance into Round 4 with normal re-seeding on a fixed-bracket system.
• Round 4 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of the winners of Round 3 and eight pre-seeded surfers, seeds 1-8, on a fixed-bracket system.
• Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final will follow.

• Round 1 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of 14 seeded surfers [9-22], plus two Event Wildcards. Winners will advance into Round 2 on a fixed-bracket system.
• Round 2 will feature eight head-to-head heats, consisting of seeds 1-8, and the winners from Round 1 on a fixed-bracket system.
• Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final will follow.

While we await the 2026 CT kickoff, the 2025 World Champions are still to be determined. The Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA is the final event before the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji, where the World Champions will be crowned.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.