- World Surf League’s Global audience reached 80 million across linear and digital platforms, a 39% increase from the previous year.
- WSL watch hours totaled 20.3 million, up 19%, with an average live audience of 2.5 million viewers per event.
- WSL social media impressions grew 46% to 1.5 billion, alongside a 31% increase in video views to 849 million.
The World Surf League released viewership and engagement data for its 2025 season, reporting a global audience of 80 million individuals across linear and digital platforms. This marks a 39% increase from the prior year.
Data provided by Nielsen showed fans generated 20.3 million watch hours throughout the season, a 19% year-over-year increase, split between 75% live viewing and 25% on-demand. The average live audience per event reached 2.5 million viewers, peaking during the Championship Tour Finals with a digital audience of 45 million.
Ryan Crosby, who joined the WSL as chief executive officer in 2024 after serving as president of publishing at Riot Games, said the WSL’s increased audience numbers shows that surfing has reach beyond its niche roots.
“With sustained growth across broadcast, streaming, and social, this past season confirms that competitive surfing has meaningful scale — and there’s still opportunity ahead,” Crosby said in a statement. “Our audience is not only expanding; it’s engaging longer, sharing more, and returning event after event with even greater passion.”
The league’s direct-to-consumer and streaming channels drove a significant portion of this growth.
- Streams on YouTube and WSL-owned platforms saw a 17% increase in unique viewers per event
- WSL content generated 1.5 billion impressions on social media, up 46% from 2024
- Video views reached 849 million, a 31% increase
- YouTube subscribers grew by 28%
The 2026 Championship Tour begins April 1 at Bells Beach in Australia. The field includes returning champions Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore, and Gabriel Medina.
