The World Surf League has confirmed Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, will not feature on the 2026 Championship Tour schedule, with Raglan, New Zealand, taking its place as the tour’s newest destination.
The announcement marks a significant shake-up to professional surfing’s premier competition, with the iconic South African right-hander removed from the calendar due to financial constraints, while New Zealand prepares to host its biggest surfing event in history.
WSL CEO Ryan Crosby acknowledged the difficult decision to cut Jeffreys Bay from the tour.
“We love J-Bay and the community there, and we’re really grateful to them for welcoming us for so many years,” Crosby said. “It’s undoubtedly one of the best waves in the world, and we will continue to explore ways to return in the future.”
“That said, we have made the difficult decision to pull Jeffreys Bay from the 2026 CT calendar. We did our very best to make J-Bay work in 2025, but the financial support isn’t there to make it viable this year.”
Crosby said the decision was necessary to ensure the long-term health of professional surfing.
“Our goal is to set professional surfing up for long-term success and make sure the world’s best surfers have the platform to keep advancing the sport for many years,” he said. “Achieving this goal requires making decisions that prioritize the health of the overall business.”
In its place, Raglan’s Manu Bay will become stop number four on the 2026 Championship Tour, scheduled for May 15-25. The left-hand point break, located on the west coast of the North Island’s Waikato region, will host the top 36 men and 24 women during the optimal time of year for New Zealand’s most famous wave.
“We’re excited to welcome this new location to the CT in the 50th year of the World Tour,” Crosby said. “As a quality left-hander, Manu Bay, Raglan is a great addition to the tour and has been made possible thanks to valuable support from the New Zealand Government.”
The addition of a left-hand point break has been welcomed by competitors, with 2025 WSL World Champion Yago Dora expressing his enthusiasm.
“I’m very happy with the addition of a rippable left on tour,” Dora said. “It’s been a long time asking to have one on the schedule, and we finally got it! I’ve never been to New Zealand, and I’m very happy that I will get the chance to go there for the first time and experience what seems to be a very beautiful part of the world.”
Women’s 2025 World Champion Molly Picklum was equally enthusiastic about the new venue.
“Obviously, so psyched to have an event that’s not too far from home,” Picklum said. “We don’t have a rippable left point break on tour, so I absolutely love that I get to bring out the backside attack. New Zealand culture and the way of life there is just a breath of fresh air, which is so appreciated when we are travelling so much.”
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said she was thrilled to support the event coming to New Zealand.
“Fans can watch the world’s best surfers compete, while showcasing Raglan as a top surf destination, growing the sport in New Zealand, and boosting local tourism,” Upston said.
Surfing New Zealand Chief Executive Ben Kennings described the event as a landmark moment for the sport in Aotearoa.
“This will be the biggest surfing event ever staged in New Zealand, bringing the world’s best surfers to our most iconic break,” Kennings said. “The opportunity for young New Zealand surfers to witness the world’s best up close is invaluable and will have a lasting impact on the future of our sport.”
New Zealand has previously hosted women’s Championship Tour events at Taranaki from 2010 to 2013, as well as a men’s Qualifying Series event at Raglan in 1995. The 2026 “Backdoor King and Queen of the Point” event staged by Surfing New Zealand in early May will serve as the official trials, with the best performing man and woman receiving wildcards into the Championship Tour event.
The 2026 season marks the 50th year of the World Tour and features an updated format with 12 combined men’s and women’s events running from April to December. The tour begins in Australia and concludes with a revitalised Pipe Masters in Hawaii. Following stop nine, the fields narrow from 36 men and 24 women to 24 men and 16 women for the final three events, with World Titles determined by each surfer’s best nine of 12 results.
