Pipeline Returns as Finale in World Surf League Shakeup

In a bold move marking the 50th anniversary of professional surfing, the World Surf League (WSL) has announced sweeping changes to the Championship Tour (CT), culminating in the return of the legendary Pipe Masters as the season finale from 2026 onwards. This decision not only revives a historic surf venue but also reshapes the sport’s competitive structure in a way that aims to balance tradition with innovation.

Starting in 2026, the CT will run from April to December, beginning in Australia and ending in Hawai‘i. The shift in schedule is accompanied by a reimagined format, including an evolved points system, revamped seeding protocols, and a renewed emphasis on performance stakes. The Pipe Masters, held at Pipeline on the North Shore of O‘ahu, will serve as the final event of the year, a change WSL says is both symbolic and strategic.

"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," said Ryan Crosby, CEO of the WSL. “We are thrilled to return the final event of the year, where World Champions will be crowned, to this iconic proving ground.”

The decision comes after extensive feedback from surfers, fans, partners, and local authorities, all of whom contributed to reshaping the CT into a more competitive and engaging series. The 2026 season will comprise 12 events in total: nine regular-season contests, two postseason stops, and the climactic Pipe Masters.

The CT’s new cumulative ranking format introduces heightened tension throughout the year. Surfers will carry their best seven of nine regular-season results into the postseason. From there, the final rankings – and ultimately the World Titles – will be decided by each surfer’s top nine performances across the season’s twelve events. This format ensures consistent excellence is rewarded, while leaving room for dramatic late-season surges.

Adding to the stakes, the Pipe Masters will now offer 15,000 points – 1.5 times the value of a standard CT event. The increase in points reinforces Pipeline’s status as the tour’s ultimate battleground. Furthermore, the top eight men and women entering Pipeline will enjoy deeper seeding in the event draw, providing a strategic edge in the high-pressure finale.

“These changes represent a new era for the WSL,” Crosby noted. “By bringing the finale back to the North Shore and strategically innovating the format, we are celebrating surfing’s legacy and creating the ideal stage for the sport’s most unforgettable moments.”

The entire CT field – 36 men and 24 women – will start the season together, but only 24 men and 16 women will progress to the postseason events following CT9 at Lower Trestles in California. Importantly, for the Pipe Masters finale, all original CT competitors will return, creating a unique dynamic where surfers outside the title race can still disrupt proceedings and claim the prestigious Pipe Masters crown.

The 2026 schedule spans iconic surf locations, including Bells Beach, Margaret River, Snapper Rocks, Teahupo'o, and Jeffreys Bay. Notably, the season introduces new stops such as Surf Abu Dhabi, reflecting the WSL’s push to globalise the sport while honouring its heritage.

Beyond the calendar and format updates, structural changes to event formats have also been introduced. From 2026, all CT events will eliminate non-elimination rounds, heightening competitive intensity from the very first heat. According to the WSL, this move is designed to ensure more impactful matchups and better alignment with optimal ocean conditions.

The announcement also marks a major step forward for women’s surfing. The CT women’s field will expand from 18 to 24 surfers, increasing representation and competitive opportunities across the globe.

The reimagined Pipe Masters comes under a new agreement with Vans, wherein the intellectual property rights to the event are transferred to the WSL. Vans remains involved as the exclusive footwear and apparel partner for the event, underscoring its continued connection to the iconic venue and surf culture.

Surfer qualification for the Championship Tour will continue through the established three-tier system – progressing from the regional Qualifying Series to the Challenger Series – maintaining the aspirational pathway for upcoming talent.

As surfing heads into its next half-century, the 2026 changes position the CT to reflect both its storied past and its ambitious future. The return to Pipeline as the season finale, paired with a more dynamic format, ensures that world titles will be decided in the sport’s most revered arena – under the heaviest waves, in the harshest spotlight.

The message from the WSL is clear: the world’s best surfers deserve a stage that matches the stakes. And from 2026, that stage is Pipeline.