World surfing events line up on the Southern Gold Coast
February brings elite surfing and global conservation talks to the Southern Gold Coast.
What’s happening?
Three major world surfing events will take place across the Southern Gold Coast in February.
The World Club Championship will run from 13 to 15 February at Snapper Rocks.
The World Surfing Conservation Conference 2026 will be held from 16 to 19 February at Southern Cross University.
The month concludes with the Gold Coast Open QS 4000, running from 18 to 22 February at Burleigh Heads.
The conference sits between the two major surfing competitions, bringing athletes, experts and organisers together during the busiest surf period of the year.
Why it matters
The events highlight the Southern Gold Coast as a global surfing hub and a centre for surf break protection.
Andrew McKinnon, President of Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve and host organiser, said the timing reflects the area’s importance.
“What a super exciting time for the Southern end of the Gold Coast, the home of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve,” Mr McKinnon said.
Local impact
The conference will draw international visitors, speakers and researchers to the Southern Gold Coast.
City of Gold Coast will use the conference to unveil its Surfing Infrastructure Master Plan and its recreational water quality monitoring stations program.
Local venues will host talks, exhibitions, film screenings and guided experiences throughout the week.
By the numbers
Over 80 speakers will present during the four-day conference, covering coastal protection, shark mitigation, artificial reefs, water quality, and health and well-being.
Nineteen countries are represented, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Guinea, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rapa Nui, Spain, the UK and the USA.
Three major world surfing events will run across February, linking elite competition with conservation and education.
Zoom in
Andy Mac, Life Member of Surfing Queensland, said the conference program reflects the depth of global surf research.
“It’s a stacked program with over 80 speakers from all over the globe talking about coastal protection, shark mitigation, artificial reefs, water quality, health and well-being amongst a diverse range of topics during the four-day conference at Gold Coast Campus, Southern Cross University, 16th to 19th February,” he said.
High-profile speakers include Layne Beachley, Nick Carroll, Tom Carroll, Ziggy Aloha McKenzie, Nik Strong Cvetich and Felipe Pomar.
Participating organisations include Save The Waves, Conservation International, Surfrider Foundation, Surfers for Climate, World Surfing Reserves, National Surfing Reserves and Surfline.
A large group of academic researchers, coastal engineers and ocean conservationists will present the latest studies on managing surf breaks and protecting surfing ecosystems.
Zoom out
The conference coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve.
The anniversary will be marked on Thursday, 19 February at The Collective, with Red 40 Band, Peruvian dancing and a charity auction supporting Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Auction items include an Ian Byrne 6’2 channel bottom swallow tail surfboard, an Emily Rose pyrographic wooden turtle, and iconic Southern Gold Coast surf photos spanning the 1960s through to the 2025 TC Alfred swell at Kirra.
What to look for next?
Public events continue across the week, including free surf film screenings of “Belinda” and Patagonia’s “Salty Heart: Ramon Navarro”.
Felipe Pomar will present his Surf Tip 100 program in the Bilinga Room at Rydges Gold Coast Airport on Saturday, 14 February at 4 pm, followed by the launch of Steve Valliere’s Barefoot in Paradise Art of Surf painting exhibition. Admission is free.
Other activities include a night-time tour of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Astra Lumina, and holiday accommodation prize draws for Matanivusi Beach Eco Resort Fiji and Villa Santai Rote.
Tickets for the anniversary celebration can be purchased HERE, with full program details available on the conference website.