Women’s Championship Tour field will increase to 24 for 2026 season

Australia has a long history of producing female world surfing champions, and a big move by the World Surf League could pave the way for more.

The next generation of Australian surfing stars has had the door opened to the elite level with the World Surf League increasing the size of the women’s Championship Tour field for 2026.

Eight-time world champion Steph Gilmore and Olympian Sally Fitzgibbons were among those to champion the roster increase from 18 surfers to 24 for each event.

Fitzgibbons, who has fallen victim to the mid-season cut in the past three years, with the 18 surfers reduced to just 10 after the seventh event, said it was a “natural progression” as the women’s tour took a major step towards gender parity.

It’s still well short of the 36 male surfers at each event, but Fitzgibbons, a three-time world champion runner-up, said it was a positive change.

“I couldn’t be more proud of where the level of women’s surfing is currently at,” she said.

“Growing the tour is the next logical step in that natural progression.

Sally Fitzgibbons is stoked more female surfers will be involved on the Championship Tour. Picture: Emma Sharon/World Surf League

“All over the world, women are stepping it up every time they hit the water, and on tour we’re seeing intense heats and fierce rivalries.

“It’s what everyone wants to see. I’m so stoked that it’s happening.”

A decision is still to be made on whether the women’s mid-season cut will remain at just 10, which it will be reduced to in 2025 after the seventh tour stop in the 11-event schedule.

The new format will include the top 14 surfers from the CT, the top seven qualifiers from the Challenger Series, two WSL seasonal wildcards, and one event wildcard that the WSL said would provide “more opportunities for women to compete at the highest level”.

Gilmore, who stepped away form the main tour in 2024 and is yet to commit to a return, said it showed the “future is bright”.

“This is great news. It’s a sign of the times and reflects the depth of talent within female surfing,” she said.

“I’m constantly amazed at the progression and the growing number of women participating in surfing around the world. The future is bright.”

Surfing royalty Steph Gilmore and Fitzgibbons. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The move comes after the WSL introduced equal prize money ahead of the 2019 season.

“Today’s incredible progression is a tribute to the dedication of every generation,” WSL commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer said in a statement.

“Visibility matters, and it’s exciting to think of the impact the field will have on inspiring future generations who see themselves in these athletes.”

The 2025 CT kicks off on January 27 at the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore.