Nearly 100 years after the oldest video footage of surfing in Europe was recorded at Leça Beach, Matosinhos is hosting a world tour event for the first time. The Xacobeo Norte Surf Fest, now in its third edition, is part of the QS 6000 INTL series—one of the new categories created by the World Surf League (WSL) for the 2025/26 season—bringing together approximately 220 surfers from five continents competing for points to qualify for the sport’s major circuits.
Among the confirmed names are Ian Gentil, Ian Gouveia, Frederico Morais, Guilherme Ribeiro, Teresa Bonvalot, India Robinson, and Sierra Kerr. The local wildcards are João Guedes and Teresa Pereira— a coincidence worth noting: João Guedes’s first competition took place right here at Leça Beach. Now, at age 40, the surfer returns to the same spot for what could be the final competition of his professional career, side by side with Teresa Pereira, who is just 18 years old.
The WSL’s involvement has also led to a significant expansion of the festival, which this year doubles in duration—from three to six days of programming. The second half of the event features the side program, with concerts by Lee-Ann Curren, Sea Angels, and Lay Day, as well as DJ sets by Ricardo Bessa, Rato, and Marlon.
Surf Talks, workshops, and adaptive surfing
Surf Talks will once again focus on the ocean, surf culture, and sustainability, with a greater emphasis this year on the relationship between surfing and the arts. Confirmed guests include Australian coach Martin Dunn, journalist and writer Andy Martin, surfer and artist Lee-Ann Curren, and environmental experts Shaw Mead and Chris Hines. Martin Dunn will also lead the seminar“Evaluating Surfing Performances,” aimed at coaches and instructors, which awards three credit units toward professional certification renewal.
The “Mar Aberto” initiative extends the conversations to a more informal setting, featuring names such as Rita Piçarra, Frankie Chavez, and Ricardo Trêpa. In terms of workshops, there will be sessions on yoga, surf skate, painting, freestyle trampoline, and self-defense. An adaptive surfing session is also planned, organized by Millennium BCP in partnership with the Surfit Terapêutica Association, in addition to beach cleanups and water safety training as part of the Surf & Rescue program.
Admission to the festival is free. Registration for the Surf Talks ranges from 10 to 35 euros; Martin Dunn’s seminar costs 250 euros. Some workshops require advance registration. The full program and schedule are available on the event’s officialwebsite —competition schedules will be announced daily, subject to sea conditions.
The festival is supported by Turismo de Portugal and Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, and sponsored by the Municipality of Matosinhos, Xacobeo, Estrella Galicia, APDL, Millennium BCP, MOOV Hotels, MEO, Drivalia, Deeply, and Go Chill.
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