The Minns Government and Surfing Australia are today announcing Seas The Day Women's Surf Festival will return to Kingscliff Beach next month, with $110,000 support from the NSW government.
Now in its fourth year, Seas The Day is the world's largest women's surfing festival. Running from 20-21 June 2026, it brings women and crowds from across Australia to New South Wales's beautiful North Coast beaches each year.
The women's surf competition focuses on creating a pressure-free, fun and inclusive environment while parents can also get involved to assist under-14s to catch waves.
Seas The Day encourages women of all ages and abilities to paddle out, get involved in the surf industry and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that come with surfing and an ocean-inspired lifestyle.
The free festival will see family-friendly surf film screenings, live music and entertainment running across the weekend, alongside talks from female professional surfers, leaders in wellness, sustainability and photography.
A crowd-favourite, the Celebrity Surf Challenge also returns in 2026, with world champions, media personalities, and Olympians from various sports hitting the water together all supporting the movement of women in sport.
Attendees can also join the physical and mental health focused workshops including yoga, ice baths and breath work.
In 2025, the event broke its own attendance records with 314 women surfing in the competition and more than 15,000 attendees soaking up everything on offer at the festival.
The Minns Labor Government is boosting women's participation in sport through Play Her Way, partnering with the sector to break down barriers for women and adolescent girls both on and off the field and identify new opportunities to grow participation and engagement.
The Government has committed $1 million to implement the Play Her Way Strategy from 2024-2028, alongside an additional $4.118 million across sport sector initiatives that support its outcomes.
The Office of Sport has also secured $1.3 million through a partnership with Transport for NSW (2024-2027) as part of the Safer Cities project to deliver Run My Way, improving safety for women, girls and gender diverse people participating in running.
Visit the Seas The Day Women's Surfing Festival website to find out more.
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:
"The Minns Labor Government is committed to helping more women and girls take part in and stay involved in sport across NSW.
"Seas The Day is a fantastic opportunity for female surfers of all ages and abilities to compete or give surfing a go in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
"I encourage all female surfers, and anyone interested in surfing and wellness, to seize the day and be part of the world's largest surfing event."
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:
"The Minns Government is proud to support the wonderful Seas the Day festival as it goes from strength to strength in encouraging women and girls to participate in surfing and become part of a community and industry focused on health and wellbeing.
"The festival plays an important role in providing a welcoming, pressure-free opportunity for women and girls of all ages to grab a board and enjoy the waves. Whether it be to compete, share waves with friends or to simply be in the water - surfing has so many benefits.
"If you live in, or are planning on visiting the North Coast, I encourage you to head over to Kingscliff to cheer on the women and girls as they hit the waves."
Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:
"The North Coast is the heart of Australian surfing, and I am thrilled to see Kingscliff once again take centre stage for the world's largest women's surfing festival.
"Our region has shown incredible resilience over the past year. Events like Seas The Day bring our community together while showcasing our world-class breaks to thousands of visitors who, in turn, provide a vital boost to our local businesses and regional economy.
"I look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to our shores to witness the talent and passion of female surfers from across the country."
Surfing Australia CEO Chris Symington said:
"It is a privilege to see the NRMA Insurance Seas The Day return to Kingscliff Beach for its fourth consecutive year.
"The event has become a key moment on the surfing calendar, reflecting the continued growth, strength and professionalism of women's surfing in Australia. The strong levels of participation, community engagement and performance highlight the positive trajectory the sport is on.
"Surfing Australia thanks the NSW Government for their ongoing support, which has played a central role in enabling the event's growth and long-term success.
"I look forward to seeing you all at Kingscliff in June for what promises to be a very special weekend."
