The World Surfing League has already finalized the locations for the 2025 season. Barely a month after the 2024 WSL finals concluded on September 6, WSL CEO Ryan Crosby announced the big news on Wednesday. “We’ve built this schedule to include more events and feature a variety of breaks,” said Crosby, and he wasn’t exaggerating.

With a dozen venues announced for the upcoming competitive season, you can catch more surfing action at varied locations next year. While the 2024 Paris Olympics made this year’s surfing season a truly special one, the WSL had cut down several fan-favorite venues to fit the Summer Games schedule. However, not only will those venues make a comeback in 25, but Kelly Slater is looking to impress fans with something special.

What are the major surfing events of the upcoming season?

Since surfing’s inclusion in Tokyo, 2024 was only the second time the WSL calendar merged with the Olympics. And while the best surfers in the world taking on Teahupo’o was a spectacle worth of the Olympics, it was the second time the French Polynesia venue featured in the catalog within the span of a couple of months. However, monotony won’t be an issue in 2025 as the Championship tour will visit 12 locations in nine months.

• January 27 to February 8 – Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii, USA
• February 14 to 16 – Surf Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• March 15 to 25 – Peniche, Portugal
• April 2 to 12 – Punta Roca, El Salvador
• April 18 to 28 – Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
• May 3 to 13 – Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia
• May 17 to 27 – Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia
• June 9 to 17 – Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA
• June 21 to 29 – Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• July 11 to 20 – Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
• August 7 to 16 – Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia
• August 27 to September 4 – Cloudbreak, Fiji (WSL Finals)

Locations such as Sunset Beach, Hawaii, and the 2024 season’s finale spot San Clemente, California are missing from the list. However, several other locations have been added to the Championship Tour calendar for next year. In fact, the WSL looks set to make surfing history at next year’s new location in the catalog.

What are the significant changes for the 2025 season?

WSL made changes to the kickoff location of next year’s championship tour. Just like this year, the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii will witness the start of the 2025 competitive season. However, things will change drastically in event no. 2. That’s because Surf Abu Dhabi at Hudayriyat Island will serve as WSL’s second stop for the tour. So what makes the venue special?

Opened last month, Surf Abu Dhabi hopes to become a revolutionary spot for surfing. That’s because the wave at the venue is man-made. After successfully constructing a massive wave pool on his private ranch, Kelley Salter Wave Co. has established the largest wave pool in the world, in Abu Dhabi. So spot no. 2 will be the first time WSL will hold an event at the venue.

While they’ve visited Kelly Slater’s Lemoore, California ranch, the wave pool in Abu Dhabi is larger. What’s more? The venue has already had a test run last month when it played host to the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic. Yet, besides exploring new horizons, the WSL also brings back iconic surf locations such as Jeffreys Bay, aka J-Bay, in South Africa.

Australia only hosted two legs of the WSL CT this year. However, that will change in 2025 with another fan-favorite Snapper Rocks, Queensland, making its return. And just because Teahupo’o got much off the spotlight this year doesn’t mean it’s going away next year.

After all, some venues are just too iconic, and as Carissa Moore explained during the Olympics; Women “are on a steeper learning curve than the men,” at the venue women didn’t start surfing at the iconic action until just two years ago.

So while there won’t be the Olympic Games to spice up next year’s surfing calendar, the WSL is hoping they won’t need it. Are you excited for 2025? Tell us in the comments.