World Junior Champion Dane Henry has been awarded a wildcard into the 2026 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, with the news being delivered by three-time World Champion Mick Fanning
Each year, Rip Curl is granted one men’s wildcard entry into the main draw of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the longest-running surf competition in the world. This year, Dane Henry has been selected with the honour, marking his first appearance in a CT event.
“It’s a big shock, I definitely didn’t expect it,” said Dane. “Last year was the first time being down there at Bells that I felt that FOMO and truly ready to be on that CT stage. I’m ready to go. Just thinking about ringing the Bell gives me goosebumps. It’s a lifelong dream of mine.”
While there are many surfers deserving of this opportunity, Dane stood out after a truly stellar year of competition.
In 2025, he claimed Gold at the ISA World Surfing Games and backed it up with a WSL World Junior Title. At just 19-years-old, the young surfer from Fingal Head on the Tweed Coast has firmly established himself as one of surfing’s rising stars.
Three-time World Champion and 4x Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner Mick Fanning knows exactly what a wildcard opportunity can mean. In 2001, Fanning received a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach at the same age as Dane. That year, he went on to win the event and ring the iconic Bell for the first time.
In a full-circle moment, Mick personally surprised Dane at his home in Fingal Head to deliver the news firsthand, telling Dane, “I’m super psyched for you. I know what that feeling’s like, and you only ever get one first so it’s going to be awesome to watch.”
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will kick off the 2026 World Surf League season and also marks 50 years of professional surfing. The waiting period runs from 1-11 April 2026.
