February on the Gold Coast is already heaving, with a number of world-class surf events rolling through town. Dropped right in the middle of it is the 2026 World Surfing Conservation Conference, running from 16-19 at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus.
This one’s less about jerseys and heats and more about the bigger picture – the stuff that actually keeps surfing alive.
The speaker list is stacked, with global surf conservation heavyweights including Save The Waves Coalition, Surfrider Foundation, Surfers for Climate, Conservation International, WILDCOAST, Patagonia, Surfline Coastal Intelligence and representatives from World and National Surfing Reserves around the globe.
Highlights include the unveiling of a new artificial reef built in southern Mexico, being tipped as one of the best artificial reef projects anywhere plus sessions on shark mitigation featuring shark bite survivor and Bite Club president Dave Pearce alongside Shark Eyes founder Shanan Worrall.
Day one kicks off with Australian of the Year Sam Elsom, followed by seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley. The age spread across the conference is equally impressive, from 82-year-old Felipe Pomar preaching ‘Surf ’til 100’ through to 15-year-old conservationist Jarrah Small.
Thursday’s final day features panel discussions on First Nations caring for Sea Country, coastal protection policy, youth involvement, and two new City of Gold Coast strategies – recreational water quality monitoring and the Surfing Infrastructure Master Plan.
Across four days, more than 100 speakers from 20 countries will take part, with plenty happening off-campus too. Expect free surf films at SCU on Monday and Tuesday nights, a Steve Valliere surf art exhibition at Rydges, a nighttime Astra Lumina walk through Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and a surfing photography exhibition at The Collective.
The whole thing wraps with a finale party at The Collective, Palm Beach on Thursday night, celebrating 10 years of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve from 2016 to 2026.
For more info and registration click here.
