Surfing’s most exclusive guest list just dropped. And getting an invitation is only half the battle.
On Thursday, October 29, title sponsor Rip Curl unveiled the 32 surfers invited to the 2026/2027 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, along with 25 alternates. The lineup reads like a who’s who of big-wave surfing, all hoping for one thing: a historically massive day at Waimea Bay.
See the full list of invitees, linked here, and below.
Among the invitees are John John Florence, Nathan Florence, Kai Lenny, Jamie O’Brien, Mason Ho, Bruce Irons, Billy Kemper, and former champions Luke Shepardson and Ross Clarke-Jones. Ha’a Aikau, a member of Eddie’s family, also earned a spot. On the women’s side, Paige Alms, Annie Reickert, Emily Erickson, and Felicity Palmateer received invitations.
And then there’s defending champion Landon McNamara.
The North Shore local won the last Eddie on December 22, 2024, thanks in part to a perfect 50-point wave. Following his historic victory, McNamara told SURFER, “To have my name amongst all those legends, that’s the best part of it all.”
But receiving an invite doesn’t guarantee the surfers will ever paddle out.
Related: It’s Official: The Eddie Is OFF for 2025/26 Season
The Eddie has one of the toughest green-light requirements in sports: wave faces must reach 40 feet, with high-quality conditions holding for a full day of competition. No exceptions. That’s why, since its inception in 1985, the contest has run just 11 times.
More than a competition, The Eddie honors legendary Hawaiian waterman and Waimea Bay lifeguard Eddie Aikau, who was lost at sea in 1978 while trying to save fellow crew members aboard the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa.
This season’s waiting period runs December 6, 2026, through March 4, 2027, following an opening ceremony on December 3. Former Eddie champion Keone Downing will serve as contest director.
As Downing put it, echoing his father’s famous words, “The Bay calls the day.”
Now, everyone waits for Waimea to make the call.
Related: Jamie O’Brien Surfs ‘60ft’ Waimea Bay at The Eddie (Video)
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