If you’ve driven anywhere near PCH and the pier this week, you already know something big is happening. The Lexus US Open of Surfing is back, it runs through Sunday, August 2, and getting in the gate costs you exactly nothing.
Here’s the deal. This is the world’s largest surf competition, and it turns the sand south of the Huntington Beach Pier into a nine-day beach festival every summer. Locals treat it like a holiday. If you only make it to one HB event all year, this is the one. And if you’ve ever wondered what it actually feels like to live in Surf City, this is the week that explains it.
I was born and raised here, I sell homes here, and I’ve been walking down to this event since I was a kid. So let me save you the guesswork.
What’s actually going on out there
Two competitions are stacked into one event, and they hand off mid-week.
The front half belonged to the World Longboard Tour, which ran Saturday through Tuesday. Fun fact most people miss: 2026 is the very first stop of the new World Longboard Tour season, so Huntington kicked off the whole race to crown this year’s world champs.
The back half is the WSL Challenger Series, running Wednesday, July 29 through Sunday, August 2. This is the pressure cooker where up-and-comers fight to qualify for the Championship Tour, the top tier of pro surfing. Translation: if you come this weekend, you’re watching people surf for their careers.
Heats run roughly 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM daily. Mornings are your best bet for clean conditions and lighter crowds. Come early, grab coffee, watch the pros while the sand is still cool.
The venue sits right around lifeguard tower 3 on the south side of the pier. This stretch has been hosting surf history since 1959, when the West Coast Surfing Championships first ran here. You’re standing on the same sand.
Watch Lane’s full podcast before you go
I filmed a full breakdown of the whole week on the Unlocking HB podcast: the free-versus-ticketed split, what to pack, the parking hacks, and my plan for one perfect US Open day from morning coffee to sunset at the pier. If you want the fast version before you head down, start here.
The part nobody tells first-timers: the surfing is only half of it
Yes, there are world-class heats. But the beach itself turns into a full festival village. Expect the WSL Beach Bar Stage, iHeart DJs, athlete meet-and-greets and signings, giveaways, partner activations, and food vendors lined down the sand. You can genuinely spend a full day here and barely watch a wave.
All of that is free and open to the public. Which brings us to the one thing that does cost money.
Free vs. ticketed: don’t get these confused
Here’s the clean version.
- The beach, the surfing, the festival village, the DJ sets: free. Walk on, no ticket.
- The Music Stage sunset concerts: ticketed and separate.
The Music Stage runs three nights, and the lineup is genuinely good this year. Opening night already brought G. Love & Special Sauce with Huntington Beach’s own Matt Costa. Still ahead: Real Estate on Friday, August 1 wait, Friday, July 31, with their hazy, ocean-at-dusk sound, and Local Natives closing it out Saturday, August 1 with openers Arcy Drive.
Quick note if you’re bringing the family: WSL’s official ticket page lists these shows as ages 6+, but double-check your ticket details, because at least one listing shows a 21+ policy. Confirm before you load up the car.
A few Music Stage rules that trip people up: it’s standing room only, no beach chairs, and no outside food or drink. Bags are capped at 12 by 6 by 12 inches, no backpacks or big multi-compartment bags, and clear bags move through security fastest.
The parking situation, and the hack locals actually use
Let’s be honest about traffic. Downtown HB during US Open week is a lot. If you’re driving, arrive early, expect to pay, and check the official Surf City parking guide before you go so you’re not circling.
But here’s the move most visitors don’t know about: the free Surf City USA Bike Valet on 5th Street in downtown. It’s open both weekends of the event, it’s secure, and it costs nothing. Bike down, valet your ride, skip the parking headache entirely, and you’re a two-minute walk from the sand. This is what locals do. If you know where to look, the whole day gets easier.
Rideshare works too. The venue is right next to the pier and every major app services the area.
What to pack, and what to leave in the car
Pack light and pack smart: sunscreen, water, a hat, a towel, cash and card for vendors, and a clear bag if you’re heading to the concerts.
Leave behind anything that won’t clear security: backpacks, glass, big coolers, and outside food or drink for the Music Stage. When in doubt, smaller is better.
One perfect US Open day, HB-local style
Want the version I actually run? Start downtown with coffee, walk over while the morning heats are still going and the sand is quiet. Watch the pros through late morning, wander the festival village, grab food from the vendors down the beach, and stake out a spot near the pier for the afternoon. If you’ve got concert tickets, roll straight into the sunset show. If you don’t, the free public beach at dusk with the pier lit up is honestly hard to beat.
That’s the day that makes people fall for this place.
The takeaway
The US Open of Surfing is the single best week to understand what living in Huntington Beach actually feels like. World-class surfing, live music, an entire festival on the sand, and most of it free. The Challenger Series and the two biggest concert nights are all still ahead this weekend, so you haven’t missed it.
If you’ve been curious about calling Surf City home, come walk the beach this week and pay attention to how it feels. Then let’s talk. My team knows every quieter pocket and every neighborhood within reach of this pier, and we’d love to help you find your spot in it.
Do good. HB deserves it.
