The East Coast Surfing Championships ran Aug. 23-30, 2026, at the 1st Street Jetty. 2027 dates are not posted yet; the contest is held each late August.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Dates, history and the schedule come from the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships site, run by the Virginia Beach Jaycees. This page is updated each year at the same address.

The 2027 dates for the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships have not been announced. The 2026 contest, the 64th, ran Sunday, Aug. 23, to Sunday, Aug. 30, from the 1st Street Jetty to 10th Street at the south end of the Oceanfront. The championships, known locally as ECSC, are held every August; we will add the 2027 dates here when the Jaycees post them at surfecsc.com.

Know before you go

  • 2027 dates: not announced; 2026 ran Aug. 23-30
  • Where: 1st Street Jetty to 10th Street; contest heats at the 1st Street Jetty
  • Watching: on the open beach
  • To compete: register online, or walk up at the surf tower if space remains
  • Merchandise headquarters: 2nd Street
  • Organizer: Virginia Beach Jaycees, admin@surfecsc.com

The oldest surf contest of its kind

The contest started in 1963, when local surfers asked the Virginia Beach Jaycees to help run a surf event, according to the organizer’s history. That first Surf Carnival was a single 12-hour day. The Jaycees kept it going through hurricanes and the pandemic, and after holding it in 2020 they say ECSC claimed the title of the longest continuous surf contest in the world.

Today it is a week-long festival. Besides the amateur and pro surfing, the organizer lists beach volleyball, a Boardwalk 5K, street skate and ramp contests, swimsuit contests, art and craft vendors, food and drink, and live music on the beach. The Jaycees’ partnership with Coastal Edge brings a World Surf League event, the Virginia Beach Pro WSL QS 4000, to the same week.

What the 2026 week looked like

The 2026 schedule gives a good guide to what to expect:

  • Surfing: amateur heats for the 64th championships and the WSL pro contest from 7:30 a.m. most days at the 1st Street Jetty, with walk-up surf registration at the surf tower while space lasted.
  • Kids: the Super Grom Push-In, a free “push and go” surf contest for children 10 and under, and an Adaptive Beach Day with Aid Another at 2nd Street.
  • Races: the Shred for Bread Skateboard 5K on the Boardwalk, the ECSC 5K and the Beach Bum Classic, a beach-style triathlon. Packet pickup was at Coastal Edge on 21st Street.
  • Skating: free skate clinics, open sessions and the East Coast Pipe Dreams Classic at the mini half pipe.
  • Music and games: a main stage on the sand, where the band Pennywise played in 2026, and a Jaycees gaming area with cornhole.
  • Fireworks: city fireworks at the Oceanfront during the week.

Parking and getting there

ECSC falls in paid-parking season. The city charges at meters and municipal surface lots from April 1 to Oct. 31. The 4th Street lot, near the contest area, also takes oversized vehicles year-round. The city’s three garages are open around the clock, and lot hours can change during large special events. Residents can buy a $50 annual Resort Area parking voucher.

The organizer lists partner hotels with event discounts at the Oceanfront for visitors.

What this means for you

Late August at the south end of the Oceanfront means crowds on the beach from 1st to 10th streets for a full week. If you surf, watch surfecsc.com for registration; if you just want to watch, the heats start at 7:30 a.m. at the 1st Street Jetty. For more on the resort area, see our Oceanfront and Boardwalk guide and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the East Coast Surfing Championships in 2027?

The Virginia Beach Jaycees have not posted 2027 dates yet. The 2026 contest, the 64th, ran Sunday, Aug. 23, to Sunday, Aug. 30, and the event is held each August at the Oceanfront.

Where is the East Coast Surfing Championships held?

At the south end of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, from the 1st Street Jetty to 10th Street. The surf contest itself is at the 1st Street Jetty.

Is the East Coast Surfing Championships free to watch?

Watching from the beach is open to the public. Surfers, skaters and runners register to compete, and some events are free, such as the Super Grom Push-In for ages 10 and under.

How old is the East Coast Surfing Championships?

It began as a surf carnival in 1963, and the Virginia Beach Jaycees say it is now the longest continuously run surf contest in the world.