Port Alfred – The 2026 Port Alfred Easter Festival will once again bring a diverse mix of sport, music, culture and community events to the Eastern Cape coastline, with competitive surfing taking centre stage as one of the festival’s flagship attractions. The broader festival programme also includes the popular Bands Innie Bush Music Festival, reinforcing Port Alfred’s reputation as a premier Easter destination offering something for all audiences.
Two premier surfing events will form the backbone of the festival’s sporting programme, taking place from 3 – 6 April at East Beach in Port Alfred. Easter has historically delivered some of the most consistent and high-quality surf of the year at East Beach, with reliable swell patterns and favourable conditions making it a proven venue for top-level competition.
The Rip Curl GromSearch, presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel and supported by Sea Harvest, will showcase South Africa’s leading junior surfers as part of Rip Curl’s globally recognised youth development platform. The event continues to serve as a proven launchpad for young athletes progressing toward professional surfing careers.
Complementing the junior contest is the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup, a World Surf League Qualifying Series event rated QS 4,000 for men and QS 2,000 for women. As part of the WSL Africa Regional calendar, the event is expected to attract a high-calibre field of leading South African surfers alongside several international competitors, all competing for valuable ranking points.
Two Events
“Rip Curl South Africa is proud to be involved in these two events as part of the 2026 Port Alfred Easter Festival,” said Stuart Daykin, CEO of Rip Curl South Africa. Port Alfred has proven itself as a world-class surf destination and an outstanding host for both grassroots and high-performance surfing.
“These events reflect our commitment to developing the next generation through the GromSearch programme while supporting professional surfing at a WSL QS level.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with the Royal St Andrews Hotel again and look forward to another memorable run of events on the Port Alfred coastline.”
The inclusion of the Rip Curl Cup on the WSL Africa Regional Qualifying Series calendar represents a significant milestone for professional surfing on the continent.
“The addition of the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup to the WSL Africa Regional QS calendar is a significant step forward for professional surfing in Africa,” said Tash Mentasti, WSL Regional Director – Africa.
“Thanks to the investment and belief shown by Rip Curl South Africa and the Royal St Andrews Hotel, we’re seeing a shift in what’s possible for regional events, where world-class competition, local community and long-term athlete development come together.”
WSL Africa
WSL Africa Regional Tour Manager Luqmaan Bruce highlighted the event’s importance within the qualification pathway.
“The Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup is a pivotal event on the WSL Africa calendar. As the final stop of the Africa Regional Qualifying Series and the only QS 4,000 for men in South Africa, it carries significant weight in points, timing, and qualification. With regional titles on the line and four men and two women earning qualification spots for the 2026 Challenger Series, we’re expecting a stacked field featuring the best talent from South Africa alongside strong international competitors, all battling to secure their place on the global stage.”
The event strengthens the competitive pathway for African surfers by creating meaningful opportunities to earn points, gain exposure and compete at a high level on home soil, while also reinforcing surfing’s broader value as a driver of youth development, tourism and regional economic growth.
Find out more about the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup men’s 4,000 and Women’s 2,00 event
Details about these events can be found on the World Surf League website. Entries are open.
Find out more about the Port Alfred Easter Festival.
Further information about the full festival programme, including surfing, music and community events, is available on the official Easter Festival website.
The Port Alfred Easter Festival is presented by Sunshine Coast Tourism Port Alfred.
For event updates, follow Port Alfred Easter Festival on social media:
Easter Festival website
Email: info@easterfestival.co.za
#BandsInnieBush #PortAlfredEasterFestival
Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
More Info on Premier Surfing Headlines the 2026 Port Alfred Easter Festival here.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortAlfredEasterFestival
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Alan Straton
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