Bells Beach Kicks Off the 2026 Championship Tour Season
- Ayelet Fuentes Guerra
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
From April 1 to 11, the world’s surfing elite will once again gather in Australia to launch a season that promises a high level of competition at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 2026.
The event will take place at Bells Beach, on Victoria’s southern coast, hosting the 63rd edition of one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions in surfing. Known for its length, power, and perfection, this Australian wave represents a true technical test for the international elite.
The 2026 CT will feature the return of eight well-known surfers to the tour. Among them are Morgan Cibilic, Samuel Pupo, and Liam O’Brien in the men’s division, while Sally Fitzgibbons and Alyssa Spencer return in the women’s field.
Meanwhile, following strong performances at the Newcastle Surfest, a total of nine surfers have qualified through the Challenger Series: five men and four women. As for emerging talents, the spotlight will be on surfers such as Mateus Herdy and Kauli Vaast, who arrive with competitive momentum and the ambition to establish themselves among the elite.
Their goal is clear: reach the final and ring the iconic Bells bell, one of the most traditional symbols in world surfing. In the 2025 edition, this honor went to Australians Jack Robinson in the men’s division and Isabella Nichols in the women’s, both representing a generation that blends talent, power, and international projection.
As the opening stop of the 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach once again becomes the stage where different generations converge—some aiming to establish themselves, while others seek to reaffirm their place at the top of world surfing.
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