<p>The 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour starts in Australia this year and also marks the 50th year of professional surfing.</p> <p>As the world's elite wave riders prepare to kick off their campaigns with three straight stops Down Under, surfing veterans must get ready to defend their legacies against a hungry generation of rising stars.</p> <p>The talent pool has never been deeper, with innovation and progression pushing the sport to new heights. Every heat matters in the race for the Final 5, and the margin for error is razor thin.</p> <p>Whether it is aerial mastery or barrel-riding perfection, fans can expect standout performances that redefine what is possible on a wave.</p> <p>With a number of Aussies currently riding high at the apex of the sport, including current Women’s WSL Champion Molly Picklum, there has arguably never been a better time for everyone Down Under to start following surfing.</p> <p>So, for those looking to dive into the sport for the first time, look no further than our 2026 World Surf League Preview below. Who will make serious waves in the 2026 WSL and who will wipeout? Let’s find out.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>WSL Predictions – Men’s Bracket</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Yago Dora</h3> <p>Currently riding high at the top of the surfing world and the man to beat in 2026, Brazilian Yago Dora claimed last year’s World Surf League title in style.</p> <p>Known for his fluid yet aggressive style, Dora's journey to date reflects resilience and innovation. His 2025 victory at Cloudbreak marked a career peak, showcasing his strategic mastery and mental fortitude.</p> <p>As a key figure in Brazil's recent surfing dominance, Dora will once again look to head up the South American charge at the WSL title in 2026.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Gabriel Medina</h3> <p>A living legend, yet still in his prime, as a three-time World Champion, Gabreil Medina’s resume speaks for itself.</p> <p>Medina possesses a rare combination of aerial innovation and deep barrel-riding prowess, making him dangerous in any conditions, from the hollows of Pipeline to the high-performance walls of Trestles.</p> <p>His ability to manufacture scores under pressure is unmatched. When the ocean goes quiet, Medina gets busy, often turning mediocre waves into heat-winning rides through sheer athletic force.</p> <p>With a tactical mind that dissects heats with surgical precision, he thrives when the stakes are highest. This year on tour, expect him to channel that trademark intensity into a campaign for a fourth title, as he looks to cement his status as one of the greatest to ever touch a surfboard.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Italo Ferreira</h3> <p>As a former World Champion and the first-ever Olympic Gold Medallist in surfing, Italo Ferreira has proven he thrives on the biggest stages.</p> <p>His surfing is defined by a relentless attack; he catches more waves and takes more risks than almost anyone on tour, overwhelming opponents with his sheer volume of high-performance manoeuvres.</p> <p>Heading into this season, Ferreira remains a top contender due to his versatility. He is equally lethal, launching massive backside rotations in Brazil as he is charging heavy barrels at Pipeline.</p> <p>His "go for broke" mentality means no heat is ever over until the final horn sounds. With his lightning-fast reflexes and unshakeable confidence, Ferreira has the tools and the passion to add another WSL title to his trophy cabinet.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jack Robinson</h3> <p>Closing out our WSL Men’s contenders with a couple of Aussie shredders. First up is Western Australia’s Jack Robinson.</p> <p>Robinson has evolved from a barrel-riding prodigy into one of the most complete and dangerous surfers on the Championship Tour.</p> <p>While his supernatural ability to read heavy, hollow waves at venues like Pipeline and Teahupo'o remains his calling card, Robinson has transformed into a tactical competitor capable of winning in any conditions.</p> <p>Entering the 2026 season, his rail game has sharpened significantly, and his aerial attack is now a reliable weapon in smaller surf.</p> <p>Having consistently reached the WSL Final 5 in previous years, Robinson has the experience and the hunger to convert his potential into a maiden World Title. He is the surfer no one wants to draw when the swell picks up.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ethan Ewing</h3> <p>Robinson’s compatriot and potential final five foe, is the effortless Ethan Ewing. Runner up in 2023, Ewing has been hankering to go one better ever since.</p> <p>Often compared to the late, great Andy Irons, a standout Australian talent, Ewing has solidified his reputation as the tour's premier rail surfer. His ability to draw long, clean lines and bury the rail with immense power sets him apart in an era often dominated by aerial tricks.</p> <p>Ewing's competitive edge lies in his consistency and technique. He excels at right-hand point breaks like J-Bay and Bells Beach, where his polished style scores heavily with judges who appreciate traditional power surfing.</p> <p>Ewing enters the 2026 WSL with the maturity and confidence of a seasoned veteran. If the waves turn on, his lethal combination of speed, power, and flow makes him an undeniable threat for the World Title.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>WSL Predictions 2026 – Women’s Bracket</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Molly Picklum</h3> <p>Our girl Molly enters the 2026 WSL season as the lady to chase and as the face of the new generation in women's surfing.</p> <p>Having won the WSL last season, Picklum has shattered the ceiling of what is expected of our Aussie surfers. Her style blends raw Australian power with a progressive flair that few can match, allowing her to drop high scores in both small beach breaks and consequence-heavy reef passes.</p> <p>Her competitive edge lies in her fearlessness and adaptability. Picklum attacks critical sections with a confidence usually seen in veterans twice her age, often attempting manoeuvres that carry high risk but yield massive rewards.</p> <p>With a rapidly maturing tactical game and an infectious competitive drive, "Pickles" has all the ingredients to dominate the tour. In 2026, she is perfectly positioned to secure back-to-back world titles.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Caitlin Simmers</h3> <p>Another young gun flying the flag for the next gen of female surfers, American Caitlin Simmers was born in 2005. Yes, you read that right.</p> <p>Despite her young age, she has already established herself as a giant slayer on the Championship Tour, winning the 2024 WSL title despite being just a teenager.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Simmers surfs with an unpredictability and flow that is mesmerizing to watch; she attacks the lip with varied, technical manoeuvres that few others even attempt.</p> <p>Heading into the 2026 season, Simmers is a massive title threat because she simply does not surf like anyone else. She excels in complex beach breaks where creativity is rewarded but has also proven her mettle in consequences-heavy waves like Pipeline and Teahupo'o.</p> <p>With her ability to manufacture high scores out of nothing and a fearless approach to critical sections, Simmers is poised to lead the new guard straight to the podium.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Caroline Marks</h3> <p>Already a World Champion and Olympic competitor, Caroline Marks has shattered expectations since qualifying for the tour as a teenager.</p> <p>Marks is renowned for possessing arguably the best backside attack in the business, generating immense power and verticality on right-hand waves that often leaves judges with no choice but to drop excellent scores.</p> <p>Her competitive edge in 2026 stems from her increased versatility. While she has always dominated at performance breaks like Trestles, she has also significantly evolved her barrel-riding game at heavy water venues too.</p> <p>This means she will be a threat at every stop on the calendar and is certainly capable of capturing another WSL title in 2026.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Tatiana Weston-Webb</h3> <p>Rounding out our picks for the 2026 WSL title is Tatiana Weston-Webb. An Olympic medallist from Brazil, she has built a reputation for charging harder than anyone when the waves get serious.</p> <p>Her goofy-foot attack is sharp and vertical, but it is her bravery in heavy water that separates her from the pack.</p> <p>Having consistently finished in the top rankings and threatened the World Title multiple times, she has the experience and the firepower to finally go all the way this year. If the schedule favours left-handers or heavy barrels, expect goof-foot goddess Weston-Webb to be there or thereabouts at the end of the year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>WSL 2026 Schedule and Dates</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Stop 1: </strong>Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia: April 1-11</p> <p><strong>Stop 2:</strong> Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: April 17-27</p> <p><strong>Stop 3: </strong>Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia: May 2-12</p> <p><strong>Stop 4:</strong> Punta Roca, El Salvador: May 28-June 7</p> <p><strong>Stop 5:</strong> Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: June 12-20</p> <p><strong>Stop 6: </strong>Jeffreys Bay, South Africa: July 10-20</p> <p><strong>Stop 7: </strong>Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia: August 8-18</p> <p><strong>Stop 8:</strong> Cloudbreak, Fiji: August 25-September 4</p> <p><strong>Stop 9:</strong> Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California, United States: September 11-20</p> <p><strong>Stop 10:</strong> Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE: October 14-18</p> <p><strong>Stop 11: </strong>Peniche, Portugal: October 22-November 1</p> <p><strong>Stop 12:</strong> Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii, United States: December 8-20</p>