LOS ANGELES, Calif., USA (Wednesday, July 1, 2026) — The World Surf League (WSL) confirmed today that Cloud 9 in Siargao, Philippines will join the 2026 Championship Tour (CT), with the event running October 31 through November 10. The Philippines Pro, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, moves up from QS 6,000 International status to become a CT stop for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
To guarantee that a minimum of 12 events can be held this season in the event the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro is unable to proceed as planned, the WSL has added this new stop to the 2026 CT calendar, helping safeguard the integrity of the tour’s new format and schedule.
“We’re excited to welcome the Philippines to the Tour thanks to the support of the Philippines Government,” said WSL CEO, Ryan Crosby. “Elevating Cloud 9 to CT status reflects both the quality of the wave and the strength of our partnership. It’s a deserving addition to the schedule that will challenge the world’s best surfers as the World Title race enters its final stages.”
Cloud 9 produces a flawless right-hand barrel, giving CT athletes access to one of the world’s premier tube-riding waves. The man and woman who win the exclusive Philippines Pro CT Trials, staged at Cloud 9 ahead of the main event, will each earn a local wildcard spot.
“Going to a new location is always exciting,” said Leonardo Fioravanti, current Men’s CT World No. 1. “I’ve seen some footage of Cloud 9, and it looks like a really fun slab barrel into a big air. I am really excited being a regular footer and getting barreled on my forehand, which kind of only happens when we go to Pipe surfing Backdoor, so I think it’s gonna be super super exciting.”
The Philippines boasts a long history of hosting elite professional surfing competitions. First staged in 1996, the Siargao International Surfing Cup is the country’s longest-running international surfing event and has been part of the WSL Qualifying Series since 2014. Alongside the CT stop, the WSL also announced a World Longboard Tour event set for January 2027 in La Union, Philippines, further cementing the country’s status as a premier global surfing destination.
“The Championship Tour belongs on the world’s greatest waves, and we are confident that Cloud 9 in Siargao, Philippines, is one of them,” said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick “Pató” C. Gregorio. “This will be a historic moment for Philippine surfing and the CT will usher the sport into a new era. Let it inspire a new generation of athletes. Let the world discover not just our waves, but the vision, ambition, and heart of the Filipino people.”
“The waves have always been here,” said Presidential Son and PSC Sports Ambassador William Vincent “Vinny” Araneta Marcos. “The talent has always been here. Bringing the WSL Championship Tour to the Philippines is the perfect opportunity to finally show the world what Filipinos have known all along: the Philippines has everything the world is looking for. Siargao will be unforgettable.”
As part of the WSL’s three-event postseason, the Philippines Pro Presented by the Philippine Sports Commission will feature 24 men and 16 women, with a reduced field of World Title contenders vying for crucial ranking points before the season concludes at the Pipe Masters in December.
“It’s definitely a lot of events, but you have more chances at giving it your best,” continued Fioravanti. “For me personally, it’s been an exciting year. We have some time to rest and then get back into things. I’m super excited and cannot wait to go and get barreled at a new location. Let’s go!”
The Surf Abu Dhabi Pro has been shifted to November 25 – 29, taking place the week before the Abu Dhabi F1 Race. The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal dates have also moved by six days, now running October 16 – 25, opening a window for the Philippines event as Stop No. 11.
Revised Calendar for the Remainder of the 2026 WSL Championship Tour:
Stop No. 7 – Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia: August 8 – 18
Stop No. 8 – Cloudbreak, Fiji: August 25 – September 4
Stop No. 9 – Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA: September 11 – 20
Stop No. 10 – Peniche, Portugal: October 16 – 25
Stop No. 11 – Cloud 9, Siargao Island, Philippines: October 31 – November 10*
Stop No. 12 – Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE: November 25 – 29*
Stop No. 13 – Banzai Pipeline, Hawai’i, USA: December 8 – 20**
*Events feature a reduced postseason field
**Full CT field rejoins to compete for qualification and the Pipe Masters title
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.