Championship Tour Descends on Bells Beach for 2026 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Tuesday, March 31, 2026) – The 50th year of the World Tour will get underway tomorrow when Stop No. 1 of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, opens the season. Keeping with tradition, the event will be held in Victoria, Australia across the Easter weekend, with a full competition window of April 1 through April 11. The first call will take place tomorrow morning at 7:45 A.M. AEDT for a potential 8:00 A.M. start.

The first of three events in the GWM Aussie Treble, the historic Bells Beach competition kicks off a series of three CT’s across Australia, including the Western Australia Margaret River Pro and the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM. Featuring an increased women’s field, a new format that raises the stakes from the very first heat of the event, and the most World Champions ever in a single season, 2026 promises to deliver exciting action from the opening hooter at Bells to the closing finale at Pipeline, Hawai‘i.

Reigning World Champions Molly Pickum and Yago Dora Chase Inaugural Australian Wins

After winning their first World Titles in 2025, Molly Picklum (AUS) and Yago Dora (BRA) return to CT competition ready to defend their place on top, however both surfers are yet to win an event in Australia. A runner-up at Bells in 2023, Picklum has come the closest of the pair and the 23-year-old would love to kick-off her fifth season on Tour with a victory on home soil.

“I think we all know how iconic Bells is, and obviously being a Rip Curl rider, it’s one of my biggest events that I want to do for all the people in that office. And then also for yourself, WSL, such an iconic event, 50 years, it would be a great way to start this season,” Picklum said. “For me, I guess the World Title felt like this dangling carrot that’s maybe never achievable, but it just teaches me so much. It’s such a magical journey. But then achieving it, I was just like, ‘Whoa, that’s crazy.’ I’m still struggling to fathom that. It does change, but ultimately, I have so many personal goals within my surfing, competing as a person. Life keeps going, there’s so many games to play out there.”

Dora’s two best finishes in Australia have both come in Quarterfinals, at Rottnest Island in 2021 and last season’s Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro. Competing in his eighth CT season, the 29-year-old continues to carry the newfound confidence that sent him all the way to the top in 2025. 

“It’s a great feeling [coming back], it’s really relieving and a lot of pressure comes off of your shoulders,” Dora said. “I feel really confident. I know the way, I know how to get there and that’s a good feeling to have. I learned a lot about myself last season and even in the postseason and during the offseason I learned so much with all the new experiences I got to do and just matured a lot. I’m fresh and feeling good for the season to start. I feel like my equipment is dialed and my mindset is in the right place and I can’t wait to put the jersey on.”

Gilmore and Moore Bring Experience and Fresh Perspective Back to Bells

Two of the most successful surfers to compete at Bells Beach are also two of the most heralded women in the sport. Eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and five-time World Champion Carissa Moore(HAW) both arrive at Bells following the better part of two seasons away from the CT. Gilmore has never placed worse than the Quarterfinals across 15 appearances at Bells, making the Final in over half of those showings and winning four times. After two years of approaching her career in a new way, the 38-year-old is back refreshed and ready for the challenge.

“It’s exciting to be back at Bells,” Gilmore said. “It’s such a special event for me and I have so many incredible memories from over the years here. It’s strange coming back to the Tour after a couple years away. In a way it feels like coming home, but it’s also been a little while, so there’s some nervous energy going on for sure. I’m looking forward to coming up against all the younger crew and newer names, as well as the familiar faces. I can’t wait to pull on the jersey and feel everything that goes with competing at this level.”

Moore also returns with a fresh outlook in 2026. Appearing in five Bells Finals and earning three consecutive wins between 2013-2015, the 33-year-old is present in Victoria for the first time as a mother, with her husband Luke and one-year-old daughter ‘Olena along for the journey.

“Motherhood is so challenging and so rewarding. I wake up every day really excited and the ordinary moments are now so magical,” Moore said. “I’m really grateful for the time away over the last two years. I think it’s given me a renewed sense of purpose and joy and appreciation for the sport. I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to accept the Wildcard this year. We were driving into Torquay and Jan Juc and all the memories just started flooding back. I was reflecting on so many beautiful years here and getting to win and walk up the stairs and I was so excited to get to put on a jersey again. I was out there in the water yesterday and looking back at the golden cliffs and I was like, ‘Wow, this is special, it’s so special.'”

Injury in the Rearview: Medina and Robinson Eye Fresh Chapters

A pectoral injury sustained ahead of the 2025 season saw Gabriel Medina(BRA) sidelined for the year. The three-time World Champion returns in 2026 with an array of changes to his approach as he begins the hunt for a fourth World Title, including a new coach in 2015 World Champion Adriano de Souza (BRA). A change of his jersey to the number one foretells Medina’s mindset for the coming season.

“This last year was a tough one to be away from surfing, but I feel good,” Medina said. “Everything happens for a reason in your life, so you got to take it. I’ve just tried to recover and be 100% for the first stop of the event. I was thinking about Bells when the doctor said the first time I was going to stay six months away from surfing. I took the time for me. It was good, I stayed with my family, friends, surf after the injury with no pressure, it was something cool. I feel 100%, I’m just ready to go.”

Though Jack Robinson (AUS) continued competing over the past two seasons, a knee injury initially picked up during competition at Bells in 2023 has plagued the defending event winner ever since. The long off-season provided the opportunity for much needed surgery. Combined with a new board sponsor, the 28-year-old is heading into 2026 with a fresh outlook.

“It’s just really good to be back,” Robinson said. “I had a surgery too in the offseason, so I feel like it’s a reinvention, and you have that through your career. You need little reinventions. It gives you a new perspective on things. Everyone’s very excited, I can see everyone’s really fired up, everyone’s surfing really well. I’m just really happy to be here and be home and see everyone again and enjoy this place, it’s pretty simple. Bells is a challenging lineup. It tests everybody. You need to know which waves and how to position. It’s definitely a special place, you need to get in rhythm with it. I think just putting in the time over many years, and coming here as a kid, just seeing the place, it all lights up and all comes back around.”

Rising Tides Evolution Continues with Expanded Program in 2026

For the 2026 CT season, Rising Tides will remain a girls-focused program designed to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of female surfers. To meet growing community demand Rising Tides will expand with a a parallel boys’ program that offers a similar experience. Rising Tides will now feature separate surf sessions with the world’s best and a shared girls and boys Q&A with CT athletes, creating a valuable space for shared learning and mentorship. Participating in the program across every season she’s been on Tour, reigning World Champion Molly Picklum (AUS) is looking forward to the new direction.

“I think it’s really exciting that Rising Tides will be for both girls and boys in 2026. Obviously, I think a huge part of sport is evolution and one generation inspiring the next, for both men and women, girls and boys. I’m excited for the boys because I know how special it is for both the surfers and the kids to be in the water, sharing the lineup, giving some tips and forming that bond. I can’t wait for all the guys to have that same experience, and it will be cool to see everyone together on that day, both girls and boys.”

Former World No. 5 Morgan Cibilic (AUS) was one of many men to join the first boy’s session at Bells and is excited for the future of the program.

“It was so sick to see the groms ripping at Rising Tides,” Cibilic said. “Sharing the lineup at Bells and giving them a few tips, you can just feel how stoked they are, and that’s honestly pretty inspiring heading into the event. The women’s program has been going off the past few years, so it’s pretty cool that the guys get to be a part of that now.”

World Champions Honored, Rookies Welcomed to Tour at Annual WSL Awards

The world’s best surfers gathered at RACV Torquay for surfing’s night of nights, the annual WSL Awards World Champions Gala, that celebrated the 2025 season and welcomed the beginning of the 2026 CT season. 

The 2025 World Champions, Longboard World Champions, and World Junior Champions were recognized for their achievements, along with the 2025/26 Challenger Series winners, Rookies of the Year and the Vissla CT Shaper of the Year. The year’s most incredible moments, top performances and pivotal breakthroughs were honored throughout the night’s proceedings, with the 2026 Rookies also welcomed to Tour.

Additionally, the WSL Impact Award was awarded to 2025 Rookie of the Year Erin Brooks (CAN) and 2019 World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA). The WSL Impact Award recognizes individual surfers who demonstrate the greatest impact and outstanding effort to inspire, educate, and empower the global surf community to protect our ocean.

GWM Aussie Treble Back for 2026 as Australia Hosts Opening Three CT Events

The WSL and GWM are set to continue their partnership into a fifth year, with the 2026 CT season seeing the return of the GWM Aussie Treble, which celebrates the best men’s and women’s performers across the three major events in Australia. With Australia hosting the opening three events of the season in 2026, the proposition is simple: the men’s and women’s top-ranked surfers after the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, the Western Australia Margaret River Pro and the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, win a GWM Tank 300. This is all thanks to GWM continuing as the Official Automotive Partner of WSL Australia in 2026.

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Round One Matchups
HEAT 1: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 2: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 3: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR)
HEAT 4: Bella Kenworthy (USA) vs. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)
HEAT 5: Vahine Fierro (FRA) vs. Anat Lelior (ISR)
HEAT 6: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
HEAT 7: Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
HEAT 8: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Ellie Harrison (AUS)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round One Matchups
HEAT 1: Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 2: Oscar Berry (AUS) vs. Dane Henry (AUS)
HEAT 3: Luke Thompson (RSA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
HEAT 4: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Xavier Huxtable (AUS)

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy will run at Bells Beach from April 1 – 11, 2026. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy is proudly supported by Rip Curl, Visit Victoria, Surf Coast Shire, Bonsoy, WSL One Ocean, Red Bull, Apple, True Surf, Surfline, I-Sea, YETI, eero, Stone & Wood, Hydralyte, GWM, Fatboy Bikes, Bond University, mophie, Boost Mobile, Volley, Bioglan and RACV.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.