ISA World Longboard Championship 2026 in El Salvador: El Sunzal, October 16–22

What Is the ISA World Longboard Championship?

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is the world governing body for surfing recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Its World Longboard Championship (WLC) is where national teams send their best traditional and performance longboarders to compete for individual gold medals and a team title. Unlike shortboard contests, scoring rewards flow, footwork and, above all, nose-riding — walking to the tip of a nine-foot-plus board and hanging toes over the edge while the wave carries you.

That's exactly why El Sunzal works so well. It's a long, forgiving right-hand point that peels down the line for long rides, giving surfers time to cross-step, set up nose rides and link turns. When the ISA crowned its 2025 champions here, finals day had "clean, three-to-five-foot swell gracing the long right point of El Sunzal," in the ISA's own words.

2026 Dates: October 16–22 (Not November)

If you saw earlier coverage, you may have the wrong dates. In February 2026 the ISA and Surf City El Salvador announced the World Longboard Championship for November 13–19. The event has since moved: the ISA's event page, Surf City El Salvador's official site, USA Surfing's calendar and El Salvador's official tourism agenda all now list October 16–22, 2026 at El Sunzal. The ISA's tentative schedule begins with pre-event activities on Thursday, October 15.

As with any surf contest, the ISA notes the schedule is subject to change, and daily calls depend on swell. If you're flying in just for finals day, build in a buffer.

Why El Salvador Keeps Hosting World Championships

The 2026 WLC is part of a three-year partnership between the ISA and the Government of El Salvador that began in 2025. According to the ISA, Surf City El Salvador has hosted 11 ISA events since 2019 and committed to four more, including this year's World Junior Surfing Championship (held September 4–13 — see our ISA World Junior recap) and the Longboard Championship.

"Since 2019, we have continued to come back every year and every time the experience is incredible," ISA President Fernando Aguerre said when the 2026 events were announced. Tourism Minister Morena Valdez tied surfing directly to the country's growth, saying it helped El Salvador reach 4.1 million international visitors in 2025, generating more than US$3.6 billion in foreign-currency income and over 340,000 direct and indirect jobs — about 10% of GDP.

The momentum has continued in 2026: the Ministry of Tourism reported more than 3.2 million international visitors between January and August, up 22% year on year. For more numbers, see our El Salvador tourism statistics 2026 breakdown.

Defending Champions: What Happened in 2025

The 2025 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Longboard Championship produced two long-awaited breakthroughs and one piece of history.

Women: Rachael Tilly finally gets gold

Rachael Tilly (USA), a two-time ISA silver medalist who reached the very first women's WLC final back in 2013 at age 15, won her first individual ISA gold. She edged two-time ISA World Champion Alice Le Moigne (France) in a tight final, with Maria Fernanda Reyes (Peru) taking bronze and Sophia Culhane (Hawaii) copper. Tilly's relationship with this wave runs deep: she won WSL world titles at El Sunzal in 2024 and again in November 2025, when the WSL's Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships crowned her for a third time alongside Australia's Kai Ellice-Flint.

Men: Edouard Delpero breaks through

Edouard Delpero (France) had come through the Main Round into the final in the top spot in every year the event ran at El Sunzal, but kept coming up short when it mattered. In 2025 he finally converted, taking his first individual ISA gold in his fourth straight WLC final.

Teams: France makes it four

France won an unprecedented fourth team gold medal. Tilly's win secured team silver for the USA, while the Philippines held on for bronze and Brazil took copper. Watch for whether France can extend the streak on a wave its team now knows well.

El Salvador's Autumn 2026 Surf Calendar

The Longboard Championship opens a busy stretch for Surf City. If you're a surf fan, you can catch more than one event in a single trip:

The ALAS Global Tour stop at Costa del Sol is a debut venue for the Latin American tour, and organizers reported more than 65 competitors from 15 countries signed up by October 1. Then in late November, the next generation takes over at La Bocana for the WSL World Junior Championships.

How to Watch: A Spectator's Guide to El Sunzal

Getting there

El Sunzal sits on the Litoral highway in La Libertad, a short walk from El Tunco. Most international visitors fly into San Salvador's international airport and continue west along the coast by shuttle, taxi or rental car. Our airport guide, rental car guide and transportation guide cover the options, and the ia.sv bus route finder helps if you're going local.

Where to stay

El Tunco is the obvious base — you can walk to the contest — with El Zonte (Bitcoin Beach) and the town of La Libertad as nearby alternatives. During September's ISA World Junior Championship, El Tunco hotels sold out, so book early if you want to be steps from the beach. See our El Salvador surf guide for a breakdown of each surf town.

Weather in October

Mid-October is the tail end of El Salvador's rainy season: expect hot, humid days with afternoon or evening storms possible, and mornings that are often the best time to watch. Pack light rain gear and reef-safe sunscreen. Our October travel guide and green season guide have more detail.

Practical tips

• Money: El Salvador uses the US dollar. Carry small bills for food stalls and parking — our money guide explains cards, cash and bitcoin.
• Connectivity: a local eSIM makes it easy to follow live heats on the ISA's webcast.
• Safety: Surf City has become one of the country's busiest tourism corridors. Read Is El Salvador safe? for the full picture.
• Entry: check visa requirements for your passport before you fly.

Make It a Bigger Trip

Between heats, El Salvador is small enough to see a lot in a week. Hike a volcano in the morning with our volcano hiking guide, drive the coffee towns of the Ruta de las Flores, or eat your way through pupusas with our food guide. Coming early November? The Day of the Dead and La Calabiuza traditions are worth timing for.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the ISA World Longboard Championship 2026?

October 16–22, 2026, at El Sunzal. Early announcements listed November 13–19, but the event was moved to October.

Is this the same as the WSL Longboard Championships?

No. The ISA event is a national-team world championship with medals and a team ranking. The WSL runs a separate professional longboard tour, which also crowned its 2025 world champions at El Sunzal in November 2025.

Can I surf El Sunzal during the contest?

Contest zones are typically reserved for competitors during heats. Nearby breaks along Surf City stay open, and the waves at El Sunzal are back to normal once the event wraps.

¿Cuándo es el Mundial de Longboard ISA 2026 en El Salvador?

Del 16 al 22 de octubre de 2026 en El Sunzal, La Libertad. Es el cuarto año consecutivo que El Salvador recibe el campeonato. Pregúntale al asistente de ia.sv dónde hospedarte y cómo llegar.

Conclusion: El Sunzal Is Longboarding's World Stage

Four straight years of world championships have turned a single point break in La Libertad into one of the most important waves in longboard surfing. Whether you're a surfer, a fan or just looking for a reason to visit, October 16–22 is a great week to see Surf City at its best — and with the ALAS tour and the WSL Juniors following, the whole autumn is stacked.