The Goat Is Back

8X World Champion Stephanie Gilmore will return to the World Championship Tour (CT) in 2026.  

Widely regarded as one of the most stylish surfers of all time, Gilmore has accepted the World Surf League (WSL) Season Wildcard after taking a two-year hiatus from professional competition.  

“The last few years, I’ve enjoyed time off to do some exploration and other things, but I’m looking forward to heading back to the CT in 2026 and seeing how I compete against the young talent on the Tour,” said Gilmore.  

“I’m mostly excited just to see how I go in these challenges again. When you step away from competing full-time, you can really switch off, and it can be hard to get back into that headspace, but I’m excited to feel that energy and that challenge again. I'm definitely excited to get back to all of those locations.” 

In her two years away from the tour, Gilmore has been travelling the world on The Search with Tom Curren, Mick Fanning, and Mason Ho, alongside creating two signature Rip Curl x Stephanie Gilmore apparel collections.  

“I’ve had incredible opportunities over the last few years, and it’s actually been busier than I could have imagined,” Gilmore said. “It will be nice to get back on Tour and have a schedule mapped out for the year.  It’s been fun, but I’m looking forward to getting back into a bit more of a routine, so we’ll see where that leads me.” 

Steph isn’t the only veteran returning to the tour in 2026, with long-time rival and 5X World Champion Carissa Moore also announcing her return to the CT earlier this week. These announcements come off the back of the WSL’s decision to ditch the Final 5 format in favour of reverting back to a traditional points-based system.  
 

With her sights now set on a ninth World Title, Gilmore will rejoin a fiercely competitive field of next-generation surfers, including 2025 World Champion and fellow Rip Curl teammate Molly Picklum.  

The 2026 World Championship Tour kicks off on April 1 with the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and we can’t wait to see Steph’s timeless surfing back on Tour once again.