The Ultimate Guide To The 2026 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Bonsoy

Directions and parking, what’s on, and what to bring. This is your Ultimate Guide to the 2026 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is a renowned stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour, and the longest-running event in competitive surfing. Not only this, but it’s also held in Torquay, the birthplace of Rip Curl. The storied list of former champions includes Rip Curl athletes such as Stephanie Gilmore and Mick Fanning. Suffice to say, the event holds a special place in our hearts and forms a key part of Rip Curl’s DNA.

Adding to this year’s excitement, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will debut as the first stop on the 2026 World Championship Tour, marking the official kick-off of the competitive season for the very first time.

This year also marks a major milestone: 50 years of professional surfing.

Dive into tips, event info, merchandise details, and more as you read on about what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest Bells yet.

Getting To Bells Beach

Driving In

From the Rip Curl Flagship Store in Torquay, get on the Surf Coast Highway. Drive all the way down past the footy oval. Then, take the second exit, heading up the hill towards Jan Juc. You’re now on the Great Ocean Road. Stay on the Great Ocean Road, take a left down Bells Boulevard. Take it slow, there are some concealed driveways along this stretch, and these roads are often thoroughfares for local wildlife too. Keep your eyes peeled for echidnas and kangaroos. Soon enough you’ll hit a T-intersection at Bones Road, turn left! By now you’ll see the official car park Bells-adjacent, a perfectly groomed 8-10ft swell (we hope!), and many others like yourself eager to watch the action… Follow the signs from here into the car park. The staff will collect a parking fee and usher you to the best available spot. You made it!

Walking In

Prefer to stretch your legs? Take the Bells Track! This scenic stroll runs from Jan Juc, where there’s ample free parking, to Bells Beach where the competition is held. It’s relatively low intensity and beautifully scenic, with local vegetation and ocean views for the majority of the trek. There are a few benches along the way for those keen to stop and take it all in or catch their breath. Spanning a little over 3kms long (or 2 miles), the Bells Track is also part of a larger network of Surf Coast Walks that connect from Point Impossible to Aireys Inlet, if you want more.

Riding The Bus

Main Event Bus Information: Between April 1 - April 11.
An accessible shuttle bus service will run for ‘ON’ days from Wednesday, 1st April to Saturday 11th April from 8:30am - 5:30pm from the Rip Curl Flagship store in Torquay. Please note daily service may cease earlier if the event is called off for the day.

Bus stops:

1. Rip Curl Store, Torquay
2. Stop at Merrijig Drive / Surf Coast Shire Offices Bus Stop
3. Stop at Pacific Drive / Sands Bvd Bus Stop
4. Stop of Surf Coast Sailing Club (Temporary Bus Stop)
5. Stop at Park Lane / Bell Street Bus Stop
6. Stop at Bird Rock Cafe
7. Stop at Rip Curl Pro Event Site

Tickets

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the gate from the first day of the waiting period.

Ticket Prices:

• Festival Pass – $40
  (Concession: $25)
• Day Pass – $20
  (Concession: $15)
• Kids 12 & Under – Free
• Parking – $5
• 3228 Residents receive free entry into the Rip Curl Pro
  (Show your ID at the Ticket Booth to claim).

*Due to capacity limitations at Bells Beach, Festival Passes do not guarantee entry on the day. Capacity limitations are put into place to ensure the continued preservation of the Bells Beach surfing reserve. Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed on site unless they are a qualified, accredited assistance dog and serving the person they are with. Note: Security may ask you to provide documentation to prove this.

Accessibility

Rip Curl Pro strives to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy the thrill of watching the world’s best surfers compete on some of the world’s best waves!

To do this, we have been working to improve the accessibility of the Rip Curl Pro, inclusive of features to support physical accessibility, along with the introduction of some new sensory friendly event elements to support people on the Autism Spectrum, plus more.

Some features at the Rip Curl Pro to improve accessibility include:

• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Toilet
• Accessible paths of travel around the main event
• Accessible viewing platform
• Social Script to support attendance
• Sensory Mapping to identify areas of low, medium and high stimulation
• Accredited Assistance Animals welcome, with clear identification

Event Map

What's ON

Saturday March 28:

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Trials
The Victorian Rip Curl Pro Trials will take place on Saturday March 28 at Bells Beach. The event will feature the top Victorian Male & Female surfers with a spot in the main event up for grabs. Competitor information and allocations can be found here.

Tuesday March 31:

Welcome To Country
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 2026 will open with a Welcome to Country from Traditional Land Owner Corrina Eccles on 31 March at Bells Beach at 8am.

50 Year Celebration Open Day: Free Live Music and Official Warm Up Sessions
Australian rock legends Spiderbait and Wolfmother will be playing a free, live show on site at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on the eve of the waiting period, Tuesday March 31.

The live music will kick off from 4:00pm in the afternoon, following all-day Championship Tour training sessions in the Bowl, from 9:00am - 5:00pm. Catch your favourite surfer as they warmup ahead of the comp, grab your event merch before the crowds arrive, and stay for some free live music!

Secure your free ticket on March 31 via the onsite QR code or the ticket booth. Entry is subject to capacity, so we recommend arriving early. On-site parking is available, and dedicated event shuttles will operate in line with the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Bonsoy schedule, with extra services running for the evening departure.

March 31 Bus Information
An accessible shuttle bus service will run on Tuesday, March 31 from 12pm - 8pm from the Rip Curl Flagship store in Torquay for the 50 Year Celebration Open Day.

1. Rip Curl Store, Torquay
2. Stop at Merrijig Drive / Surf Coast Shire Offices Bus Stop 3. Stop at Pacific Drive / Sands Bvd Bus Stop
4. Stop of Surf Coast Sailing Club (Temporary Bus Stop)
5. Stop at Park Lane / Bell Street Bus Stop
6. Stop at Bird Rock Cafe
7. Stop at Rip Curl Pro Event Site

A special return bus service will also run leaving from the event site 6pm - 8pm on March 31.

1. Rip Curl Pro Event Site
2. Surf Beach Drive / Bells St Bus Stop

Wednesday April 1:

Day One of the Waiting Period
All the action kicks off on Wednesday 1st of April 2025, official Day 1 of the waiting period, and first day of the 2026 competitive season.

Jumbo LIVE Screen at the Rip Curl Torquay Store
There will be a jumbo live screen outside of Torquay Flagship store from 1st – 7th April. Relax in the sunshine and watch the world’s elite wreak havoc on our favourite right-hand points.

Decal Exhibition presented by Rip Curl, FCD, Yeti, Stone & Wood @ 6pm
Come join us at Feast Studios (9 Cylinders Drive, Torquay) for some drinks, pizzas and artwork! This is an exhibition of graphic surf exploration, paying homage to iconic surfboard decals. A range of artists will showcase their original artwork, including Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 2026 artist Amy Jean.

Friday April 3:

TRACKS Party @ 7pm
TRACKS magazine presents their annual TRACKS party at the Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club with headliners Beddy Rays. A night not to be missed, grab your tickets here before they sell out!

Saturday April 4:

Rip Curl Team Signing @ 4.30pm
Come and grab a signature from your favourite Rip Curl surfers at our Rip Curl Flagship Store at 101 Surf Coast Highway, Torquay. Bring along a wetsuit to recycle, skip the queue!

Sunday April 5:

‘Sketchy’ Movie Premiere @ 5pm
Join us for the World Premiere of our never-before-seen Search film, Sketchy at the Torquay Hotel (36 Bell Street, Torquay). Starring 2025 World Champion Molly Picklum and iconic Rip Curl team riders such as Stephanie Gilmore, Mick Fanning, Mason Ho, Erin Brooks, Dane Henry, Morgan Cibilic, and many more. No ticket required but make sure you get in early as capacity will be limited. First in best dressed!

Saturday April 11:

The Swell Sessions @ 4pm
Haven’t got your fix of live music yet? Grab your ticket to the Swell Sessions at the Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club headlined by The Terrys with some epic support acts to celebrate the last day of the waiting period!

Is the Rip Curl Pro on today?

Is the Rip Curl Pro on today? We'll be doing daily updates on our event page and socials each day of the waiting period. We’ll let you know The Call so you stay informed and don't miss out when it's ON!

• Official Event Page: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
• Instagram: @ripcurl
• TikTok: @ripcurl

Pack Ya Bags

Wondering what to bring to Torquay? Well, predicting the weather on the Surf Coast is notoriously fickle. Five seasons in a day. If you don’t like the conditions, just wait 20 minutes… they’re bound to change! Below we’ve got our picks for embracing the elements, fending off the sun, catching a few waves, and just generally winning at the event. When you’re prepared, there’s nothing better than feeling the cool offshore breeze lap over the dunes and into the surf. Do it in Rip Curl style with ultimate comfort.

Official Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Merchandise
Celebrate the 2026 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach with this epic collection featuring the latest artwork of surfing’s most iconic competition from Melbourne-artist Amy Jean. Bring a piece of the action home with our Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach merchandise, available in select Rip Curl stores and on-site at Bells Beach in the official merchandise store.

A Jacket
When you're at the beach, a warm jacket is essential to protect yourself from the elements. We’ve got you covered with plenty of options that are ideal for battling the rain, wind, and chill. Our Jackets are made to Live The Search.

Hats, Caps, and Sunscreen
The sun is sneaky down our way. If you’ve posted up on the sand and are watching heat after heat, even if there’s a chill in the air, there’s a good chance you’ll get burnt. Protect yourself from all of the above.

Event Accessories
Sitting on the sand is part and parcel of being at Bells. The slopey wave-groomed dunes are like a natural amphitheatre. The vibe is electric. But! No one likes wet bum. Pick up a beach blanket, ideally with one waterproof side to sit on the beach.

Bags and Backpacks
Beware the front row seats! If you plonk down on the sand, keep your wits about you. The Easter full moon makes for king tides that reach gradually higher and higher up the beach. So, when the tide’s coming in, the surge may try and steal your flip-flops or significant other. A waterproof beach bag is perfect for keeping your favourite things safe, dry, and on land.

Water Bottle
The Rip Curl Search Stainless Steel Drink Bottle is an epic insulated flask. Whether it's quenching a summer thirst with something ice cold, or warming up from the wintry dawn surf, this is an essential in every surfer's quiver.

The Perfect Wetsuit
This year the best wetsuit for Bells is the Flashbomb Fusion.

Featuring Rip Curl’s latest E7 neoprene with Thermo Lining throughout the entire suit, combined with zip free entry system for maximum paddling freedom and water seal. It’s the perfect balance of warmth and stretch.

Not In The Area?

Can’t make it to Bells? Don’t miss a heat. Stream it live via the WSL website.
Want to learn more about the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach? Explore our main event page!