Special Events/Induction Day

Induction Day 2026

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Our annual ceremony to honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport and culture of surfing will be held on 10am on July 30, 2026 in front of Jack’s Surfboards (located on the corner of PCH and Main Street). This is a free event!

ICONS AND PIONEERS TO BE HONORED AT 2026 SURFING WALK OF FAME

Incredible lineup of pioneers and icons to be inducted to the Surfing Walk of Fame on Main Street in Huntington Beach.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Announcing the 2026 Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame inductees!

Surfing Champion - Jordy Smith

Surfing Pioneer - Mike Purpus

Surfing Culture - Phil Roberts

Woman of the Year - Patti Paniccia

Local Hero - Joey Hawkins

Honor Roll - Dean Torrence

The Surfing Walk of Fame ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 30th at 10am on Main St. The free annual ceremony during the U.S. Open of Surfing will come with insightful illuminating speeches from the inductees and MC'ed by the 1st World Tour 1976 Surfing Champion Peter Townend celebrating along with the WSL the 50th anniversary of world tour professional surfing.

The 2026 Surfing Walk Of Fame inductees will be celebrated on July 30, 2026, at 10:00am.

About The Walk Of Fame

Going back nearly three decades, Huntington Beach’s Walk Of Fame was the vision of Mike Abdelmuti, owner of Jack’s Surf Shop, as well as a group of dedicated locals and a founding board of directors who all shared a similar vision: to honor those that have contributed to the surf culture, lifestyle and industry. Located on the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast High in front of Jack’s Surf Shop, the first class was honored in 1994. The categories that are honored include Surf Pioneer, Surf Champion, Woman of the Year, Surf Culture, Local Hero and Honor Roll. Every year more than 200 ballots are sent out to decide who will be recognized.

Here are the voting criterions used to decide each division:

SURF CHAMPION – Nominees must have held a world championship and/or world-class event titles specific to Huntington Beach.

SURF PIONEER – Nominees achieved surfing fame as a respected surfer or pioneer in the time before major championship; candidates must either be at least 50 years old or deceased.

SURF CULTURE – Inductees are nominated from the arts and/or industry, and must have helped create and define surfing culture.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR – Any female who meets the qualification in any of the four categories: surf champion, surfing culture, local hero, or surfing pioneer.

LOCAL HERO – Nominees must have resided in Huntington Beach for at least 10 years, graduated from Huntington Union School District, been a finalist in the surf champion category, contributed to Huntington surfing culture, been a surfing pioneer in the city or a past champion at the annual Huntington Beach City Championships.

HONOR ROLL – Recipients of the honor roll award deserve recognition du to their important contributions to the sport of surfing and its culture, but hey do not qualify under the specific guidelines of the other five walk of fame categories. The honor roll is the only category chose by the Walk of Fame Board of Directors.

This year’s honorary induction ceremony will take place during the U.S. Open of Surfing outside of Jack’s Surfboards in Huntington Beach on Main Street at 10:00am on Thursday, July 30th, 2026.

Past recipients of the Surfing Walk of Fame honors include Duke Kahanamoku, Kelly Slater, Lisa Anderson, Tom Curren, Bruce Brown, Eddie Aikau, Shaun Tomson, Mark Richards, Peter “PT” Townend, Gerry Lopez, Layne Beachley and more.

Press contact:

Peter “PT” Townend
activempire@aol.com
714.742.0355

The Surfing Walk of Fame 2016 Induction on July 28th. Video Production courtesy of by Matt Liffreing.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR PAST INDUCTION DAY PHOTO GALLERY!