In a sport where momentum matters and rivalries run deep, the 2026 WSL Championship Tour is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. Three former World Champions: Carissa Moore, Stephanie Gilmore, and John John Florence, are all set to jump back into full-time competition, and the surf world is buzzing. These aren’t just surfers returning to the jersey; these are legends stepping back into the arena at a time when the level of surfing has never been higher.

Their returns come with storylines that feel almost scripted: a new mother in Moore, a rejuvenated Gilmore after time away, and John John Florence seeking another chapter in his already remarkable career. If you’re thinking 2026 is about to feel like a reunion tour of the greats, you’re right. And the best part? All three still surf with the fire, finesse, and fearlessness that made them champions in the first place.

Carissa Moore: A Champion Returns with a New Purpose

Carissa Moore’s return might be the most emotionally charged of the three. After stepping away from the full-time tour in 2024 and announcing her pregnancy, Moore embraced a new chapter, motherhood. But if anyone thought that meant the competitive fire would dim, they don’t know Carissa.

Moore’s surfing has always been defined by power, flow, and a kind of joyful aggression that seems almost effortless. Now, she’ll bring a new perspective to the tour, one shaped by balance, gratitude, and an even deeper sense of purpose.

Historically, surfing moms have brought something special to the sport. Think Chelsea Hedges. Think Serena Williams in sport more broadly. There’s a resilience there, a lived-in understanding of pressure and endurance. And Moore, already one of the most decorated surfers of all time, will arrive in 2026 with that added layer of emotional strength.

The women’s tour right now is stacked, Caroline Marks, Molly Picklum, Caitlin Simmers, and a rising generation of fearless teenagers pushing the boundaries. But Moore’s return adds a stabilizing force, a kind of North Star for high-performance surfing.

Expect her to slot right back into the world-title conversation. She’s the kind of surfer who doesn’t just rejoin the pack—she reshapes it.

Stephanie Gilmore: Two Years Away, But Never Out

If Carissa is returning from a life milestone, Stephanie Gilmore is returning from a life reset.

After stepping away from the Championship Tour following the 2023 season, Gilmore spent two full years off the main stage, traveling, filming, free-surfing, chasing swells, and reconnecting with the roots of surfing. Her absence left a noticeable hole in the tour. Few surfers in history match her elegance, her storytelling presence, or her ability to make surfing look… inevitable, like each wave was designed for her.

Gilmore’s two-year break feels reminiscent of Kelly Slater’s mid-career pauses, strategic retreats that set the stage for powerful returns. She’s had time to recharge, to surf without a rashguard, to rediscover joy outside the stress of judging criteria and heat strategy. And that discovery tends to translate beautifully once the jersey goes back on.

The biggest question? How will she adjust to the speed and aggression of the newer generation. The women’s field is surfing with more risk than ever—massive rail turns, boosted airs, late drops that look like something out of a movie.

But if anyone can match talent with experience, it’s Gilmore. Her ability to read the ocean is unmatched. Her timing is a masterclass. And her style, still one of the most envied on the planet, ages like fine wine.

Seeing Gilmore back on the tour isn’t just exciting; it feels right. And 2026 is going to be a better year because of it.

John John Florence: The Return of a Genius

John John Florence has never been gone, exactly, but a full-time, healthy, locked-in Florence hasn’t graced the tour in a while. Whether it was injuries, selective events, or chasing big-wave glory, Florence’s presence on the CT has been more cameo than constant.

But 2026? He’s back.

And if you’ve watched Florence surf anytime in the past decade, you know what that means: the tour is about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Florence’s freesurf edits alone could form their own competitive era. His ability to blend technical precision with raw ocean intuition is unmatched. He surfs like he’s listening to something the rest of us can’t hear, a frequency somewhere between instinct and artistry.

At full health and full focus, John John is one of the most dangerous surfers in history. His rail work rivals the best. His air game is world class. His Pipeline mastery is the stuff of legend. And with veterans like Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira mixing with a new generation of talent, Ethan Ewing, Griffin Colapinto, Yago Dora, the stage is set for some of the most compelling heats we’ve ever seen.

His rivalries alone could anchor an entire season.

Why 2026 Might Be a Once-In-a-Generation Season

Having even one former World Champion make a comeback would be big news. But three? Three of the most influential surfers of their era returning at the same time? That’s lightning-in-a-bottle stuff.

The storylines practically write themselves:

Motherhood Meets Momentum: How Carissa balances new motherhood with elite performance.
Grace Meets Grit: Whether Stephanie’s refined style can withstand the explosive young talent rising through the ranks.
Genius Meets Generational Shift: How John John handles the hungry pack of surfers who grew up studying his every move.

It’s a moment where eras collide, a merging of past brilliance and future ambition. And perhaps the most incredible part is that all three still have the ability to win events, shake up rankings, and contend for titles.

For longtime fans, it’s nostalgia.

For new fans, it’s education.

For the tour, it’s a jolt of electricity.

The Bottom Line

2026 is shaping up to be a season built on comebacks—physical, emotional, and artistic. Carissa Moore, Stephanie Gilmore, and John John Florence aren’t just returning; they’re elevating the year before it even begins.

Their stories intersect at a perfect moment: a tour filled with young, hungry talent; surf progression accelerating at warp speed; and a fanbase eager for legacy, personality, and possibility.

If you love surfing, circle 2026 on your mental calendar.

It’s going to be special.