EuroSurf Junior Championships 2026

What to Expect

Bundoran hosts the EuroSurf Junior Championships for the first time in 2026, run by Irish Surfing in partnership with the European Surfing Federation. It is billed as Europe’s largest and most prestigious junior surfing championship, and brings more than 250 athletes, coaches, officials and delegates from over 20 European nations to the Donegal coast across the ten day window from 24 September to 4 October. Competition runs across six divisions, Under 16 Boys and Girls, Under 18 Boys and Girls, and Under 18 Longboard Boys and Girls, with heats scheduled around tide and swell conditions rather than a fixed daily timetable, as is standard for surf contests run in open ocean. Irish Surfing CEO Zoe Lally has framed the event as a chance to showcase Ireland’s Atlantic coast on a continental stage, noting the timing coincides with Ireland holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union. A “Saltwater Festival” of music, art and coastal culture runs alongside the competition in the town.

Good to Know

• Thursday 24 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, at Bundoran; exact daily heat times depend on surf and tide conditions on the day.
• Watching from the beach is free; surf contests in Bundoran typically run with a competitor and judging area roped off on the sand rather than ticketed grandstands.
• Many of the competitors are on development pathways toward senior European teams and Olympic surfing qualification, so the standard is high for a junior event.
• Expect Bundoran’s beaches, cafes and surf schools to be busier than usual, with accommodation in the town booking up given the scale of the event.
• This is Ireland’s first time hosting EuroSurf Junior, so it is a one-off on this scale for the town rather than an annual fixture.

Getting There

Bundoran is on the N15 in south Donegal, on the shore of Donegal Bay; the main surf beaches are a short walk from the town centre.