Big Wave Challenge 2026 (Awards Gala) - Results

The 2026 Big Wave Challenge Awards ended with a strong presence from Nazaré. Of the 10 nominations featuring waves surfed at Praia do Norte, four ultimately won trophies in their respective categories.

• 🏆 Rodrigo Koxa — Men’s Biggest Wave
• 🏆 Michelle des Bouillons — Women’s Biggest Wave
• 🏆 Grant “Twiggy” Baker — Men’s Paddle
• 🏆 Alberto Truncer — Wipeout of the Year

The ceremony took place on September 19, 2026, at the Lido Theater in Newport Beach, California, bringing together surfers and professionals from the big-wave surfing community around the world. The awards recognise performances from the 2025/2026 season.

Watch the full ceremony:

Rodrigo Koxa wins Men’s Biggest Wave

Rodrigo Koxa took home the Men’s Biggest Wave trophy for the wave he surfed at Praia do Norte on December 19, 2025.

The wave received a preliminary measurement of 29.15 metres, a figure that could have an impact on the list of big-wave world records. For now, however, this measurement is not an official new record, and any potential ratification will depend on validation by Guinness World Records. We’ll have to wait and see.

Watch Rodrigo Koxa’s biggest wave:

Michelle des Bouillons wins Women’s Biggest Wave

In the Women’s Biggest Wave category, the trophy went to Michelle des Bouillons for her performance at Praia do Norte.

The Brazilian was one of three surfers nominated in this category for waves surfed in Nazaré, alongside Justine Dupont and Michaela Fregonese.

Watch Michelle des Bouillons’ wave:

Grant Baker wins Men’s Paddle

South African Grant “Twiggy” Baker won the Men’s Paddle category, dedicated to the biggest waves surfed by paddling in, with his wave at Nazaré.

Watch Grant Baker’s wave:

Alberto Truncer wins Wipeout of the Year

In the Wipeout of the Year category, the winner was Alberto Truncer, for a moment captured at Praia do Norte.

The video of the wave was filmed by Nazaré photographer Hélio António, who was also recognised for his work.

Watch the winning video:

Tom Lowe and Justine Dupont named Surfers of the Year

The ceremony also awarded Tom Lowe and Justine Dupont the titles of Surfer of the Year. The French surfer is a regular presence in Nazaré and was also nominated in the Women’s Biggest Wave category for a wave surfed at Praia do Norte.

Awards for the 2025/2026 season

The Big Wave Challenge Awards should not be confused with the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge, the World Surf League competition held at Praia do Norte in Nazaré. They are distinct events: the awards are an annual international distinction recognising big-wave performances at different locations around the world, while the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge is a specific annual World Surf League competition at Nazaré.

The latest edition of the TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge took place on 13 December 2025. The World Surf League competition is expected to have a new edition in Nazaré during the coming months, throughout the winter in Portugal. Stay tuned for more information at nazarewaves.com and subscribe to email alerts.

See the previous article about Nazaré’s 10 nominations at the 2026 Big Wave Challenge Awards.