2026 Gran Canaria GLORIA World Cup - Preview

Gran Canaria GLORIA World Cup © John Carter

The 2026 Gran Canaria GLORIA World Cup opens on Saturday 4 July at Pozo Izquierdo, Gran Canaria - the first of five major 4-5 Star European wave events on the WWT calendar this season.

Three well established 5-Star World Cups anchor the schedule: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Germany Sylt. Alongside them, for the first time in years, the tour extends its reach - to Wissant on the Atlantic coast of northern France, and to Tiree off the west coast of Scotland. Five events. Four countries. The broadest European wave tour leg the sport has seen in the modern era.

Wissant and Tiree are legendary spots with passionate local communities, deep windsurfing histories, and conditions that have tested and shaped some of the sport's best sailors. Bringing them into the world ranking picture at 4-Star level is one of the things the WWT was built to do: grow the map, recognise the depth of this sport, and give the communities that live and breathe wave sailing a seat at the table.

The European Leg Majors - 2026

• Gran Canaria GLORIA 5-Star | Pozo Izquierdo | 4-12 July
• Tenerife 5-Star World Cup | 31 July-9 August
• France Wissant Wave Classic 4-Star | 12-20 September
• Germany Sylt Citroen 5-Star World Cup | 25 September-4 October
• UK Tiree Wave Classic 4-Star | 10-16 October

Pozo Izquierdo - Where it all starts

Pozo needs no introduction. The northeast trade winds arrive daily, building through the morning and peaking in the afternoon at 20-35+ knots, side-onshore and relentless. Waves of 1-3 metres break on volcanic rock. The jumps against the rooftops, the wind rotors turning on the hillside, the best in the world at their absolute limit - Pozo has been burning itself into windsurfing's memory for over three decades. In 2026, the WWT opens its major European chapter here.

The competition

The top 28 men and top 12 women in the WWT World Rolling Rankings are advance seeded into the main bracket, joined by challengers fighting for four additional spots each. Masters 45+, Pro Juniors U21, and Juniors U18 contest full 100% world ranking points across dedicated age division days. For every division, Gran Canaria is a major.

Live Broadcast

All three pro competition days - Qualifying, Seeding, and Finals Day - broadcast live and free on the WWT YouTube and HUB website. Commentary from Ben Proffitt, photography from John Carter, drone coverage throughout. Daily press releases, global social media, and full WWT HUB integration with wave by wave, jump by jump scoring and stats. Production led by WWT's Brian Welsh, HUB website directed by Russ Faurot, social media led by Maria Andrés.

The Organiser

The Gran Canaria GLORIA World Cup is organised by Björn Dunkerbeck — 42-time world champion, raised on Gran Canaria, and connected to this event for over two decades.

Head Judge Luis Escribano leads the judging panel, supported by lead scoring judge Emi Galindo.

Registered Riders
All the world's best will be there along with a stacked field of over 130 registrations already.

WATCH LIVE
Free on the WWT YouTube channel from Saturday 4 July. Full event information at worldwindsurftour.com