El Salvador has officially kicked off the Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship 2026, welcoming 428 athletes aged 8 to 18 across 56 international delegations. Taking place at the iconic breaks of El Sunzaland La Bocana in La Libertad Costa through September 13, the world-class event brings an estimated 700 visitors—including young competitors, coaches, and families—to the nation’s renowned coastline.
The championship highlights El Salvador’s ongoing transformation into a premier destination for international sports and tourism. Tourism Minister Morena Valdez credited improved public safety and inter-institutional coordination for enabling the country to host global events of this magnitude, encouraging young competitors to make the most of the upcoming swells.
International sporting leaders praised the government’s commitment to growing the sport on a global scale. “This is a very important platform for the future. We are happy to return and to promote El Salvador as a destination for world surfing,” said Robert Fasulo, Executive Director of the International Surfing Association (ISA). Meanwhile, Armando Bruni, President of the El Salvador Olympic Committee, emphasized the value of the tournament for local youth development, noting its broader impact on sports promotion, economic growth, and social advancement.
Beyond the competitive heats, which remain open to the public alongside interactive side events, the tournament reflects the long-term success of the country’s Surf City initiative. Officials noted that an increasing number of international athletes now travel to El Salvador specifically to train on its world-class waves, driving consistent tourism growth and establishing sustainable development as the next key priority for the region.