Nazaré Big Wave Challenge: dates, alerts and where to watch

On one winter day, if the waves are big enough, the world's best big-wave surfers compete at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, towed into the waves by jet ski. The contest has no fixed date: it is called a day ahead, when a big enough swell is on its way. Here is how the alerts work and how to watch it, on the cliff or online.

The 2026–27 window

The WSL's 2026 big-wave schedule lists the Nazaré event with a window of 1 November to 31 March. In both of the last two seasons, the WSL announced the window on 1 November and kept it open until 31 March. For 2025–26 it ran from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026.

The window is only the period in which the contest may run. It goes ahead on a single day, chosen at short notice, and only if the waves are big enough.

How the alerts work

During the window, the WSL watches the swell, wind and tide forecasts for Praia do Norte. It needs consistent waves of at least 25 feet (about 7.6 m) on the face for the whole contest.

1. Yellow alert: a big swell is heading for Nazaré and the conditions look right. It can come as far as 72 hours before a possible contest day.
2. Green alert: the forecast has held, and the contest is on within the next 24 hours.

So you get about three days' warning that it might happen, and one day's notice that it will. The WSL posts the alerts on its website and app. The local site NazareWaves also sends them by email.

How the contest works

The 2025–26 edition followed this format:

• Nine teams of two surfers, in three groups of three teams.
• Six heats of 45 minutes. Each group surfs two heats.
• Team-mates take turns: one surfs while the other drives the jet ski that tows them into the wave.
• Each surfer's two best waves count, with the best one worth double, for up to 30 points.
• There are prizes for the best man, the best woman and the best team.

Last season: 13 December 2025

The 2025–26 contest ran on Saturday 13 December 2025, with a first call at 09:00 local time and waves of 12 to 15 m on the face. A power cut stopped it early, so the results came from the first of the two planned rounds.

• Men's winner: Lucas Chianca (Brazil).
• Women's winner: Justine Dupont (France).
• Team winners: Nic von Rupp (Portugal) and Clément Roseyro (France).

Watching on contest day

The contest is free and open to the public. Going by last season's instructions:

• Watch from the cliffs around the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, the lighthouse fort, or from the slope down to Praia do Norte. There is plenty of room on the slope.
• The fort itself is closed to the public on contest day.
• You cannot park near the lighthouse or in Sítio, the upper town. Park towards Praia do Norte or outside Sítio, and be ready to walk more than 1 km.
• Arrive in the morning. Last season the organisers expected to finish before 17:00.
• The ground can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip. Keep away from the cliff edge and the water.

If you cannot get there, the WSL streams the contest live on WorldSurfLeague.com and in its free app. For the rest of the season, see Nazaré's giant waves: when they come and where to watch.