From the Italian Shortboard Championship to the new Wave Party: the 22nd edition of the Marinedda Bay Open brings together competition, fun and the joy of sharing the waves.

Italy’s longest-running surf contest returns to Isola Rossa. In 2026, the famous bay of La Marinedda, on the Costa Rossa in North Sardinia, will once again host the Marinedda Bay Open – Italian Shortboard Championship 2026, the Italian championship organised by the Italian Surfing, Waterskiing and Wakeboarding Federation, which will award the men’s and women’s titles in the Olympic shortboard discipline.

The weather window is set from 15 September to 15 November: as always in surfing, the sea will decide the best day to start the competition. The wait is part of the show and will accompany the 22nd edition of the Marinedda Bay Open. For a few days, it will almost feel like being in Northern California, but with the scent of myrtle and helichrysum in the air.

The story of the Marinedda Bay Open shows how this beach has become, over the years, a landmark for surfing in Sardinia and in Italy. Italian and international athletes have challenged each other on its waves, including Eric Rebiere, now one of the leading names in big wave surfing in Nazaré, and Leonardo Fioravanti, who returned to competition at La Marinedda in 2015 after the serious back injury he suffered in Hawaii.

Since then, surfing has come a long way: it entered the Olympic programme in Tokyo, returned in Paris and now looks ahead to Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. Along this journey, the bay of La Marinedda continues to hold a special place on the national scene, combining sport, sea and one of the most striking natural settings in North Sardinia.

Before the competition begins, there will be plenty of room for fun. The big new feature for summer 2026 is the Wave Party, a new format organised by the Marinedda Bay sports association and designed to bring surfers of different ages and levels into the water.

The waiting period will be open from 15 August to 15 September. Juniors and adults, beginners and more experienced surfers will be able to share the waves using shortboards, longboards and softboards, with heats organised according to sea conditions. During the Wave Party, it will also be possible to join a free surf lesson, with limited places and advance booking required.

The Costa Rossa, the stretch of coastline in north-west Gallura known for its red granite cliffs, beaches and wide natural landscapes, offers the ideal setting for enjoying the sea beyond the competition days. In Isola Rossa, the Hotel Marinedda Thalasso & SPA, which is once again supporting the initiative this year, and the Hotel Relax Torreruja Thalasso & SPA will remain open until 11 October 2026, offering the chance to experience the island at a slower pace, among the sea, small villages, wellness and outdoor activities. And during the Marinedda Bay Open, the bay becomes a spectacle even for those who simply choose to watch the competition from the beach.