The 2026 National Surfing Championship, the country’s top surfing competition organized by the Costa Rican Surfing Federation, will take place on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

According to the federation, the tournament will open Feb. 13 at Cocles Beach in Limón province and travel to the country’s main surf breaks before concluding July 12 at Jaco Beach in Puntarenas.

Athletes will compete in 20 categories, including men’s and women’s divisions in shortboard, longboard, SUP surf, bodyboard and adaptive surfing. Competitors range in age from 10 to over 40.

The 2026 season coincides with several major international events, including the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games, the Pan American Surf Games (PASA Games) and the Central American and Caribbean Games. As a result, national rankings in each category will be a key factor in selecting the teams that will represent Costa Rica internationally, the federation said.

Competition begins at Cocles Beach in Limón on Feb. 13–15, with a maximum of 1,500 points available.

In May, the tour continues at Guiones and Nosara beaches in Guanacaste province from May 8–10, also offering up to 1,500 points.

June events are scheduled for Dominical Beach in Puntarenas province from June 12–14, with surfers again able to earn a maximum of 1,500 points.

The championship wraps up July 10–12 at Hermosa Beach and Jaco Beach in Puntarenas, where competitors can earn up to 2,500 points.

After all five stops, each surfer’s four best results will count toward the overall rankings.

“Costa Rica has one of the highest-level surfing circuits in the Americas, thanks to the commitment of our athletes, families and sponsors who support the sport,” said Roberto Vargas, president of the Costa Rican Surfing Federation. “This year, our goal is to hold training camps for pre-national teams and to create a technical staff for the national teams that will work closely with regional coaches.”

Vargas said the tournament also aims to continue developing judges and surfers so more Costa Ricans reach the level required to compete in the world’s top surfing leagues.

In the 2025 edition, more than 250 surfers registered across multiple categories and competed in five CNS events. Of those, 27 qualified for the continental finals of the ALAS Global Tour, highlighting the championship’s high level of competition and organization, the federation said.

The tournament will be broadcast on local Channel 6 and its digital platforms, including its official website, social media and YouTube, every Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.

In international competition, Costa Rican surfer Leilani McGonagle, 24, earned a historic victory at the Super Girl Surf Pro, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 4,000 event held in Oceanside, California, U.S.

In other international sporting events recently held in Costa Rica, French player Mathys Domenc won the men’s singles title and American Janae Preston captured the women’s singles crown at the 61st Copa del Café, a prestigious international junior tennis tournament held in January.