35 Years of Waves, Culture & Community – The Legacy of the Noosa Festival of Surfing
In 2026, the Noosa Festival of Surfing will celebrate a milestone that few events in the world of surf can claim. 35 years of sun, style, culture and connection at one of the planet’s most iconic point breaks.
What began as a grassroots longboarding contest in the early 1990s has grown into the largest surfing festival of its kind and one of Noosa’s most defining annual events.
A Festival Born from Community
The origins of the festival are steeped in camaraderie, craftsmanship and a shared love of surfing. Surfboard pioneers and local surf clubs came together to honour the traditions of board riding at First Point. The event brought together surfers of all ages, shapes and backgrounds long before surf festivals were a global phenomenon.
Honouring the Classics
The Old Mal division, still a festival favourite to this day, reflects the soul of the event. Showcasing pre-1968 boards, traditional manoeuvres and timeless style. The reverence for surfing’s roots remains visible in everything from the boards to the heats to the stories told in the sand.
Growth with Heart
Over the decades, the festival evolved to include new divisions, international competitors, music, art, wellness and environmental initiatives. Yet, despite its size and reach, the festival has never lost touch with its essence: connection, craftsmanship and coastal culture.
Legends, Locals & Lifelong Memories
Names like Joel Tudor, Harrison Roach, Taylor Jensen, Josh Constable, Kassia Meador and Belinda Baggs have all left their mark on Noosa’s waves during the festival’s history. Families return year after year, making it a generational tradition. Many of today’s competitors once came as groms, watching from the shoreline with sandy feet and big dreams hoping to be on the podium one day.
Why Nostalgia Matters
The 35th year is a testament to the power of place, people and purpose. The festival has survived changing trends, weathered storms (literal and figurative), and remained a constant celebration of what surfing once was and still is.
Nostalgia isn’t about the past; it’s about preserving the character that makes the event meaningful in the present. From classic boards and heritage heats to iconic music nights and beach bar conversations, the history of the festival adds depth to every new wave.
A Legacy That Belongs to Everyone
At its heart, the Noosa Festival of Surfing has always been about community. From volunteers and shapers to musicians, sponsors, athletes, spectators and the parents who drive their kids to the beach every day so they can be the best versions on themselves. The festival’s legacy lives through the people who show up, year after year.
As we celebrate 35 years in 2026, we honour where we’ve come from, recognise what the festival means to Noosa, and look ahead to the next chapter of surfing culture, connection and creativity.
