Mangaluru: The NMPA Indian Open of Surfing 2026 will be held at the Blue Bay Eco Beach, Tannirbhavi, from May 29 to 31. Deputy commissioner Darshan HV told reporters on Monday that surfing has put Mangaluru on the global map and that the Mangaluru coast is ideal for surfing. Karnataka has steadily emerged as one of India’s leading destinations for surfing, and this event continues to play an important role in promoting both sport and tourism in the region.Organised under the aegis of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), the event remains one of the key stops on the national surfing calendar and is expected to play an important role in the build-up to the upcoming Asian Games. The seventh edition of the championship will serve as a major competitive platform for surfers aiming to strengthen their claims for places in the Indian contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.The championship is presented by the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), which returns as title sponsor for the third consecutive year. Cycle Agarbatti and DeConstruct join as Gold Sponsors, while the event is supported by the Karnataka Tourism Department, the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, and the Karnataka Surfing Association. Northern Sky comes on board as Venue Partner. For the seventh consecutive year, the state govt is backing the Indian Open of Surfing since its inception.Yathish Baikampady, president Dakshina Kannada swimming association, said indian surfing recently achieved a historic milestone after securing its first-ever qualification quotas for the Asian Games. Indian surfers have additionally made impressive strides internationally, earning podium finishes and medals at the Asian Surfing Championships in recent years. The pre-monsoon swell is ideal for surfing, and several children of the fishing community have learnt to surf, he said.Shamanth from the Karnataka Surfing Association said that over the years, the event has attracted some of the country’s best talent while also elevating Karnataka’s stature as a major destination for surfing and beach tourism. Top surfers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and other places are expected to participate. Following the Little Andaman Pro 2026 held in April, the Mangaluru event serves as the second stop on the National Championship Series. The event showcases intense rivalry between surfers from the east and west coasts of India, with crucial ranking points on offer that will determine the surfers’ standings at the end of the season.Chairman of Surfing Swami Foundation Dhanajay Shetty said, “The growth of Indian surfers at the continental level over the last few years has been extremely encouraging, and events like these are vital in building a strong competitive ecosystem.”DK zilla panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari, assistant commissioner Meenakshi Arya, deputy director of the district youth empowerment and sports department Pradeep D’souza and deputy director of the department of tourism Dilip Kumar and others were present.
