Bundoran to host European Junior Surfing Championships in 2026
Event to take place in September and October
Bundoran is to host the European Junior Surfing Championships in a ten-day event this autumn.
The competition will see Bundoran welcome national teams from across Europe from September 24 to October 4.
Sanctioned by the European Surfing Federation (ESF), the competition will see Europe’s top
Junior surfers compete at The Peak and Tullan Strand, bringing one of the continent’s most prestigious youth surf events to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Organised by Irish Surfing in collaboration with Saltwater Festival, the event represents a major milestone for the sport in Ireland, positioning Bundoran at the centre of European junior high-performance surfing.
Hundreds of athletes, coaches, officials and supporters are expected to travel to Donegal for the Championships, delivering significant sporting and tourism impact to the northwest region.
Sport Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council proudly support the event, underlining the national significance of hosting a continental championship on Irish shores.
Gavin McCrea, Technical Coordinator at Irish Surfing, said: “Hosting the European Junior Championships is a landmark moment for Irish surfing. It reflects the strength of our athlete pathway and the international reputation of our waves.”
Ryan Vail, a music producer at Saltwater Festival, commented: “This event showcases not just world-class surfing, but the energy, culture and community of Ireland’s west coast.”