World Surf League: Championship Tour Returns to Saquarema for the 2026 VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero

• World Title Contenders Arrive in Brazil with Momentum

• Brazilian Stars Look to Capitalize on Home-Crowd Advantage

• Event Wildcards Ready to Cause Major Disruption

SAQUAREMA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - The World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) returns to Brazil for the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Stop No. 6 of the 2026 season. As the World Title race heats up heading into the second half of the season, the world's best surfers arrive at Praia de Itaúna in Saquarema for one of the most anticipated events on the calendar.

Known for its electric atmosphere and passionate fanbase, the VIVO Rio Pro has consistently delivered career-defining moments and unforgettable performances. With valuable rankings points on the line and the race toward the World Title intensifying, Brazil's iconic beach break is set to provide another week of world-class competition.

Opening Rounds Called ON at VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero

• Competition Starts with Men’s Round 1 at 7:30 AM (GMT-3)

• Men’s Round 2 and Women’s Round 1 to Follow

• LIVE COVERAGE ON WORLDSURFLEAGUE.COM

Pictured: The 2026 VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Official Press Conference (L to R): Ivan Martinho, Luana Silva (BRA), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Lucas Chianca (BRA) Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

World Title Contenders Arrive in Brazil with Momentum

As the Championship Tour reaches a critical stage of the season, the battle for the Yellow Leader Jerseys remains tighter than ever. Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Gabriela Bryan (HAW) arrive in Saquarema leading the rankings, but challengers are rapidly closing the gap, including Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) and Carissa Moore (HAW) who are fresh off their recent wins at the Surf City El Salvador Pro. With only a handful of events remaining before the WSL Finals, every heat carries major implications.

Brazilian stars continue to play a major role in the title conversation. Reigning World Champion Yago Dora (BRA) returns to one of his favorite stops on Tour, while former event winners Filipe Toledo (BRA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), and local surfer João Chianca (BRA) look to deliver in front of the home crowd. On the women's side, Luana Silva (BRA) leads the Brazilian charge, aiming to convert local knowledge and crowd support into a breakthrough result as she continues her pursuit of a place among the season's elite.

Pictured: Lucas Chianca (BRA) annouced as event wildcard at the 2026 VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero. Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

Event Wildcards Ready to Cause Major Disruption

The World Surf League had already announced that Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Weslley Dantas (BRA) were awarded WSL Wildcard invitations for the 2026 VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero. After creating anticipation, the Event Wildcard was announced at the official VIVO Rio Pro press conference naming local surfer Lucas Chianca (BRA) to compete in his first-ever CT event.

“It’s a dream come true to surf in this event at home, in front of this crowd and potentially against my brother,” said Chianca. “This is a wave where I grew up and learned how to surf and where I learned how to surf big waves too, so as a true fan of surfing and the sport, I’m really over the moon and a huge thanks to the WSL for making this happen.”

Stop No. 6 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2026 Championship Tour (CT), has been called ON for the opening of the event window day at Praia de Itaúna, in Saquarema, Brazil.

The competition will begin with fireworks as the powerful goofy-footer Ramzi Boujhiam (MAR) faces local wildcard Lucas Chianca (BRA) who knows the waves in Saquarema like the back of his hand and excels when conditions get heavier. Chianca, who had a surprise reveal of his wildcard invite during the official VIVO Rio Pro press conference, is extremely excited to be surfing in front of his hometown crowd.

Heat 2 will see some friendly fire as Luke Thompson (RSA) will be matched up against fellow South African Matthew McGillivray (RSA), who comes in as a substitution for another South African, the injured surfer Jordy Smith (RSA). They will be followed in Heat 3 with Hawaiian Seth Moniz (HAW) and another fiery wildcard in the likes of Weslley Dantas (BRA). Dantas has been on a tear recently becoming the 2025/26 WSL South America regional champion as well as being crowned the 2025 Banco do Brasil Circuit champion.

Finishing off Round 1 of the men’s division, Heat 4 will see Eli Hanneman (HAW), who finally broke out of his rut in El Salvador with an equal 9th place finish, up against Australian Oscar Berry (AUS).

Women’s Round 1 will be filled with exciting matchups, beginning in Heat 1 with Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) facing up against Vahine Fierro (FRA) at Praia de Itaúna. Heat 2 will see two explosive goofy-footers matched up against each other featuring Anat Lelior (ISR) against Erin Brooks (CAN).

Other exciting matchups include eight-time WSL World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) against the rookie phenom, 15-year old Tya Zebrowski (FRA) in Heat 5 as well as two-time WSL World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) facing Brazilian surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in her return to competition at the CT level after giving birth to her first child, Bia Rose.