World Surf League Hits Raglan for Historic Championship Tour

Witness the World’s Best Surfers at the Corona Cero New Zealand Pro

History is being made in New Zealand as the World Surf League brings the Championship Tour to our shores for the first time ever. The Corona Cero New Zealand Pro presented by Bonsoy is set to transform the iconic left-hand point break of Manu Bay into a global arena, pitting 60 of the world’s best surfers against the legendary Raglan swell.

WSL Raglan: The Championship Tour

• Event: Corona Cero New Zealand Pro presented by Bonsoy

• Dates: 15 – 25 May 2026

• Location: Manu Bay, Raglan, New Zealand

• Athletes: Top 36 men and 24 women from the WSL Championship Tour

• Watch Live: worldsurfleague.com

This landmark event marks the 50th year of the World Tour and introduces a high-stakes, streamlined format with no non-elimination rounds. Current World Champions Yago Dora and Molly Picklum are among the elite field ready to test their "backside attack" on one of the most rippable lefts on the planet. For local fans, they can see kiwi surfers Tom Butland, and Alani Morse have secured wildcards to compete against the world's best, along with Raglan local Billy Stairmand.

With an 11-day window allowing for optimal weather and surf conditions, the competition will run for approximately four days of unmissable action. Whether you are watching from the rocks at Manu Bay or streaming from home, this is the biggest surfing event ever staged in New Zealand.

Be there to see who etches their name into history at Raglan.

Event Logistics & Times

The competition operates within a waiting period from 15 to 25 May. On days when the surf is pumping and the event is declared 'ON', hours run from 7:30am to 5:00pm.

Because conditions can change fast, the WSL Tours and Competition Team makes a daily status call. We recommend downloading the World Surf League App to get instant notifications on whether the event is ON, OFF, or ON HOLD.

Getting There: Park & Ride

There is no public parking at Manu Bay during the event. To keep things moving, a mandatory park and ride system will operate from the Raglan Airfield.

• Event Day Pass: $15 adult / $10 (ages 7-16)

• Event Festival Pass (Full Access): $50 adult / $30 (ages 7-16)

• Under 6s: Free

The shuttle service runs from 6:00am to 7:00pm on event days only. A limited number of Festival Passes go on sale via Flicket on Thursday, May 7, at 11:00am, with all other passes available at the airfield ticket box on the day. Remember to keep your wristband on for the duration of your stay!

The Onsite Experience

Manu Bay will be buzzing with more than just world-class surfing. Between heats, you can check out:

• Food & Drink: A wide range of onsite food trucks, Raglan Roast coffee stations, and the Corona Cero Public Bar.

• Activations: Explore the latest from YETI, Red Bull, Bonsoy, and I-SEA Sunglasses.

• Merch: Grab the official gear at the Backdoor Merchandise Shop.

• Action: Hit the Christian Surfers Skate Ramp (bring your own board and helmet).

We are committed to a low-waste event to keep our oceans clean. Please bring reusable drink bottles and avoid single-use plastics where possible.

What’s On: Raglan Event Schedule

The town will be alive with music, movies, and exhibitions throughout the window:

• 13 May: Ain’t That Swell live at Raglan Club.

• 15 May: Official Opening Party at The Yard (from 7pm).

• 17 May: Billabong Team Signing and movie screening at Raglan Surf Company.

• 15 – 24 May: Surfalicious Exhibition at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre.

If you can’t make it to the cliffside at Manu Bay, head into town to soak up the atmosphere at one of the official live sites, including Orca, Harbour View Hotel, The Yard, and George’s Beach Club.

Be there to see who etches their name into history at Raglan. For more information and to track the competition days, head to worldsurfleague.com

Please note, live event days planned for the 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour are not fixed and may occur on any day between Friday, 15 May 2026 and Monday, 25 May 2026 (the 11-day Window).

The World Surf League (WSL) will assess weather and surf conditions each morning during the 11-day Window to determine whether the event will proceed on that day. The WSL Tours and Competition team will assess weather and surf conditions each morning to determine if the event is "ON," "OFF," or "ON HOLD." A final decision is made approximately by 7:30am daily. Only then will MediaWorks be able to inform the entrant(s) whether they have won ticket(s) for one event that is to take place on that same day.If the selected entrant(s) is unable to attend, they will be deemed to have forfeited their ticket(s). If this occurs, MediaWorks may, at their sole discretion, select an alternative winner. To stay informed on the event status, we highly recommend entrants download the WSL app or sign up for alerts to receive real-time notifications.

By entering this competition, you acknowledge that the 2026 World Surf League Championship Tour is entirely dependent on weather conditions. As a result, the WSL may shorten the amount of live days, meaning MediaWorks' specific ticket allocation from the WSL may be impacted and therefore cannot be guaranteed. In the event this occurs and the event for which the entrant holds the specific ticket(s) no longer proceeds, then those corresponding ticket(s) will be forfeited and no replacement ticket(s), cash, cash equivalent or compensation will be provided to that entrant by either the WSL and/or by MediaWorks.