● Live nowKelly Slater Surf Ranch
Lemoore, CA, USA
Kelly Slater Wave Co.6.2ft / 1.9mWave
15Per hr
60mSession
4.9Rating
WSL Surf Ranch Pro · Sep 12
from $12000
GuideThe independent wave pool almanac · 2026
EVERY WAVE
POOL, ONE MAP.
The independent, hand-maintained guide to the world's artificial surf parks. Sessions, settings, festivals, and the taco truck across the parking lot.
27Pools mapped
11Wave techs
14Countries
The Directory
Featured wave pools
Twelve pools across four continents. Every guide includes real wave settings, session prices, festival dates and honest reviews.
● Live now
● Live nowWaco Surf (BSR)
Waco, TX, USA
PerfectSwell4.9ft / 1.5mWave
90Per hr
60mSession
4.6Rating
Stab High · Aug 2
from $129
Guide
● Live nowPalm Springs Surf Club
Palm Springs, CA, USA
Surf Loch7.9ft / 2.4mWave
70Per hr
90mSession
4.7Rating
from $100
Guide
● Live nowThe Wave Bristol
Bristol, UK
Wavegarden Cove6.6ft / 2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.8Rating
Groms Weekend · Aug 24
from $55
Guide
● Live now
● Live nowO2 SURFTOWN MUC
Munich, Germany
Endless Surf7.2ft / 2.2mWave
120Per hr
60mSession
4.6Rating
Endless Open · Oct 4
from $85
Guide
● Live nowURBNSURF Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
Wavegarden Cove6.6ft / 2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.8Rating
from $79
Guide
Opening soonURBNSURF Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Wavegarden Cove6.6ft / 2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.8Rating
from $85
Guide
● Live nowPraia da Grama
Itupeva, São Paulo, Brazil
Wavegarden Cove7.2ft / 2.2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.9Rating
Medina Invitational · Nov 15
from $250
Guide
● Live nowSurf Abu Dhabi
Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Kelly Slater Wave Co.11.2ft / 3.4mWave
12Per hr
60mSession
4.9Rating
WSL CT Abu Dhabi · Feb 14
from $490
Guide
● Live now
Opening soonThe Wave Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura, Spain
Wavegarden Cove7.2ft / 2.2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
from $70
Guide
Opening soonOpens 2026The Point Surf Park
Fellsmere, FL, USA
Endless Surf6.6ft / 2mWave
120Per hr
60mSession
4.6Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens Summer 2026DSRT Surf
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Wavegarden Cove6.6ft / 2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens 2026
Opening soonOpens Summer 2026Gemswell Surf Madrid
Madrid, Spain
Wavegarden Cove7.2ft / 2.2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens 2026Bahrain Surf Park
Bilaj Al Jazayer, Bahrain
Wavegarden Cove6.6ft / 2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.6Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens July 2026Brasil Surfe Clube
Buzios area, Brazil
Endless Surf7.9ft / 2.4mWave
120Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens 2026El Nido
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Wavegarden Cove6.6ft / 2mWave
1000Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens 2026Surftopia at Aquarabia
Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia
Endless Surf9.8ft / 3mWave
120Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens In developmentCabo Real Surf Club
Los Cabos, Mexico
Endless Surf7.9ft / 2.4mWave
120Per hr
60mSession
4.8Rating
Members only
Guide
Opening soonOpens Late 2026 to 2027Austin Surf Club
Austin, TX, USA
Kelly Slater Wave Co.7.9ft / 2.4mWave
15Per hr
60mSession
4.9Rating
Memberships reportedly above $1M
Guide
Opening soonOpens 2026 (phased)Zion Shores
Southern Utah, USA
UNIT Surf Pool6.6ft / 2mWave
90Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
Residential community, session pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens Spring 2026Crest Surf Clubs
Shirley, NY, USA
Premier Surf Systems6.6ft / 2mWave
120Per hr
60mSession
4.6Rating
Private membership
Guide
Opening soonOpens 2026
Opening soonOpens Spring 2026East Point Reef Club
Bridal Falls, BC, Canada
Ka'ana Wave Co.5.9ft / 1.8mWave
0Per hr
60mSession
4.6Rating
Pricing TBD
Guide
Opening soonOpens By 2028Ocean Kamp
Oceanside, CA, USA
Endless Surf7.9ft / 2.4mWave
120Per hr
60mSession
4.7Rating
Pricing TBD
GuideThe Machinery
Seven ways to build a wave
Every operating wave pool on earth runs on one of seven core technologies. Here's the plain-language breakdown of each.
Wavegarden Cove
The high-volume, high-variety benchmark. If you've surfed a Cove, you've surfed the closest thing to an ocean.
Kelly Slater Wave Co. (KSWC)The wave that changed everything. Fewer sets per hour — every one a 50-second point break.
PerfectSwell (American Wave Machines)Pneumatic peaks and air ramps. The wave pool that made airborne surfing a stadium sport.
Endless SurfThe deepest programmable menu of any pool. Built by WhiteWater West.
The Big Picture
The wave-pool world
Every operating pool, every one about to open, every festival week — pinned in one place.
LiveFestivalSoon
Straight answers
Wave-pool questions, answered
+What is a wave pool?
A wave pool — also called an artificial surf park or surf lagoon — is a purpose-built body of water that generates ridable, ocean-style waves on demand. Modern wave pools use one of seven technologies: Wavegarden Cove, Kelly Slater Wave Co., PerfectSwell, Endless Surf, Surf Loch, Surf Lakes, or Swell MFG. Each system produces a different mix of wave shape, size, and volume.
+How many wave pools are open in the world in 2026?
As of 2026 there are roughly 25 fully operational public wave pools worldwide, with a further 40+ in construction or advanced permitting. Wave Pool Party maintains hand-verified guides on twelve of the most-visited destinations plus every core wave technology powering them.
+How much does it cost to surf a wave pool?
Prices range from ~$55/hour for beginner sessions at The Wave Bristol to $490+ for a beginner slot at Surf Abu Dhabi, and up to $70,000/day for a Kelly Slater Surf Ranch buyout. Most performance sessions at public parks sit in the $100–$200 range.
+Which wave pool is best for beginners?
For learning: The Wave Bristol (UK), URBNSURF Melbourne (Australia) and Palm Springs Surf Club (California). All three run dedicated beginner ‘Waikiki’ settings, include boards and wetsuits, and staff coached learn-to-surf slots.
+Which wave pool has the biggest barrels?
Surf Abu Dhabi produces the longest and largest barrel on earth — a 700 m Kelly Slater Wave Co. wave with 3.4 m face heights. Kelly Slater's original Surf Ranch in Lemoore holds second place with its iconic 50-second right and left.