Pismo Beach hosts The World Dog Surfing Championships on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the north side of the pier. Free and open to the public, you can view the competition up close from the beach or get a bird’s eye view from the pier. Is it art? Dogs in life vests riding surfboards to the beach is beautiful, so it’s art!
“The World Dog Surfing Championships is the premier competitive dog surfing event in the world, held annually in Pacifica, California,” the city announced. “The WDSC Exhibition Tour is a traveling showcase designed to bring the sport to new audiences and new communities. Pismo Beach marks the tour’s first-ever appearance on California’s Central Coast.”
The official competitive demonstration is between six elite dog surfing teams, but if you have a dog that surfs, sign Fido up via eventbrite.com for community heats that are open to local dogs. There will also be a dog beach fashion contest, dog adoptions in partnership with local rescue organizations, and a Surf Dog Village with sponsors tents, local organization info booths, and meet-the-dog opportunities.
Feel free to bring your dog, but city leash laws apply, dogs are not allowed on the pier, and only competing dogs are allowed in the water. Hang eight! Δ
This article appears in April 30 – May 7, 2026.