Shaw and Partners Iron Series Returns to Surfers Paradise for 2026/27 Season

Surf Life Saving Australia has unveiled Shaw and Partners Iron Series, headlined by the historic return of professional surf sports to Surfers Paradise for the first time since 2019.

The professional series will commence with the trials at Tugun Beach in September before officially opening with the iconic Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold in October.

Following stops at Thirroul and Newcastle, the championship will culminate on the Gold Coast, where Surfers Paradise will stage the Super Sprint on 6th February before the Grand Eliminator crowns the 2026/27 men’s and women’s champions on 7th February. This milestone marks a new competitive era following the retirement of multiple-time champion Ali Day, while reigning women’s champion Tiarnee Massie prepares to defend her title.

The upcoming season introduces an enhancements designed to elevate commercial appeal and expand competitive depth, including an expanded athlete field from 56 to 68 competitors. A new repechage system has also been implemented following the opening Coolangatta Gold round to increase intensity throughout the tour.

Commenting the elite standard of the competition, Surf Life Saving Australia CEO, Adam Weir, said: “The Shaw and Partners Iron Series continues to set the benchmark for surf sport, not just here in Australia but around the world.”

“Year after year, the Series brings together the nation’s top athletes, pushing them to their limits and challenging them to compete across some of Australia’s toughest beaches.

“We’re proud to bring the upcoming Series to Thirroul, Newcastle and Surfers Paradise this summer, and we look forward to once again delivering a world-class competition for the exceptional athletes who make this Series so compelling,” Weir said.

Title sponsor Shaw and Partners continues its strong commercial backing of the premier professional sports property.

Highligting the longstanding partnership of both organisation, Shaw and Partners CEO, Earl Evans: “The Shaw and Partners Iron Series is the pinnacle of professional surf lifesaving in Australia, bringing together the country’s best athletes to compete at the highest level.”

“After more than four decades, the professional series is firmly embedded in the Australian sporting landscape.

“We’re proud to support its continued evolution and the elite athletes who make it such an iconic competition,” Evans said.

With Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate welcoming the return of Surfers Paradise to the major events calendar, the series is positioned for enhanced fan engagement, broadcast visibility, and commercial growth.

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