The World Surf League (WSL) is set to return to India with the Shore Temple Classic QS 2000 and Pro Junior event, scheduled to take place from August 12 to August 16, 2026, at Mahabalipuram Beach in Tamil Nadu.
The event will bring together some of the region’s leading surfers and India’s top talent, competing on the long right-handers of Mahabalipuram Beach. It marks the return of the WSL to India since the country hosted its inaugural WSL event in 2023.
Ty Sorati, WSL APAC Tour Director said, “The WSL is excited to return to India following a successful debut in 2023 and to bring the country’s first Pro Junior alongside the QS in 2026. The response to our first event showed the passion and potential for surfing in India, and we’re looking forward to building on that momentum this year. Mahabalipuram offers a great high-performance wave, and with both QS and Pro Junior competition on the schedule, it’s a fantastic opportunity for local surfers to compete alongside some of the region’s best. We’re grateful to our local partners for their continued commitment to developing the sport in India.”
Mahabalipuram Beach will host the second edition of the WSL QS in India and the country’s first-ever Pro Junior. Located beside the Mahabalipuram Shore Temple, the beach features a long right-hand sandbar with open-face sections suited to powerful rail surfing and progressive airs, along with occasional barrels when conditions are favourable.
The venue has hosted several national and international surfing competitions and continues to play a role in the development of India’s growing surf scene. The event is being delivered in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Surfing Association (TNSA) and the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), continuing their collaboration from the inaugural WSL event in 2023.
India made history in 2023 by hosting its first-ever World Surf League event, a QS 3000, in a landmark moment for surfing in our country. This year, we are proud to build on that foundation with the QS 2000 and Pro Junior. Hosting these events on home soil is a real advantage for our athletes — they earn valuable ranking points and gain the competitive experience they need to make their mark across the Asia region. But our ambition goes further. Our goal is to grow this into four additional WSL events in India, creating a clear pathway for our surfers toward Challenger Series and Championship Tour contention.
Arun Vasu, President, Surfing Federation of India said, “Beyond the sport itself, these competitions put India’s world-class waves on the global map, drive coastal tourism, and inspire a new generation to take up surfing. We expect to see many more Indian surfers on the circuit in the years ahead. This is only the beginning of India’s journey on the world stage.”
The event is supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
Thiru. J. Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, said, “Tamil Nadu is proud to have been the first in India to bring the World Surf League to our shores in 2023, and we are delighted to continue that journey with the Shore Temple Classic 2026. As one of the sponsors for this year’s event, SDAT remains committed to supporting the growth of surfing in Tamil Nadu and providing our athletes with world-class competitive opportunities on home soil. Mahabalipuram has proven itself as a truly world-class surfing destination, and we look forward to another spectacular edition of the WSL in Tamil Nadu.”
The Shore Temple Classic 2026 is expected to further strengthen India’s position on the international surfing calendar while giving Indian athletes an opportunity to compete for ranking points and gain valuable experience against regional competitors.
