The International Surfing Association (ISA) has confirmed that Peru will host the 2026 ISA World Surfing Games (WSG), one of the first qualifiers for surfing for the LA28 Olympic Games. The event will be held from 6-15 November at the iconic Punta Rocas.
ISA president Fernando Aguerre said: “It’s incredible to look back at how challenging was the journey to Olympic inclusion starting almost 30 years ago. Here we are, after an extraordinary showcase in Tahiti, looking ahead with great excitement to what LA28 and Lower Trestles will bring.
“Punta Rocas is a perfect stage for performance surfing, much like Lower Trestles will be at the Olympic Games. A great place to start surfing’s third Olympic cycle. The team qualification slots awarded at the World Surfing Games will make this an unforgettable competition, as nations come together and battle for the opportunity to compete on sport’s ultimate stage.”
As one of the first events in surfing’s third Olympic cycle, the 2026 World Surfing Games will award one LA28 qualification slot to the highest ranked men’s and women’s teams. The athletes who will fill these positions will be selected by their respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
The first Olympic qualification slot will be the one Continental slot for Asia, awarded to the top ranked surfers per gender at the Asian Games to be held in Tahara, Japan from 25-29 September.
Peru’s relationship with the ISA dates back more than half a century, beginning with the second World Surfing Championships in history in 1965. Since then, it has hosted the World Surfing Games in 2010 and 2014, played host to the first World SUP and Paddleboard Championships in 2012 and 2013 and the inaugural World Longboard Championship in 2013.
Most recently, the World Junior Surfing Championship was welcomed for a second time in 2025, following its initial hosting in 2011. In alignment with the 2026 World Surfing Games schedule, the Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship will be held from 16-22 October.
Sergio Ludeña, president of the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD), said: “For Peru, hosting the 2026 ISA World Surfing Games represents a very important step in the development of surfing at both the national and international levels.
“Our country shares a deep connection with this sport, and events like this consolidate that legacy, inspiring new generations of athletes. This Olympic qualifier not only showcases Peru to the world but also strengthens our commitment to the growth of surfing as a competitive discipline – from the grassroots level to high-performance competition – on the road to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”
Image: Punta Rocas in Peru (Credit: ISA/Pablo Jimenez)