With athletes from over 20 countries, Itacoatiara Pro 2026 takes place from May 22 to June 7
Free event features bodyboard, surf, bodysurf, and skate championships, as well as a cycling tour bringing together the elite of the sport
Program includes cultural activities, along with environmental and social initiatives
Niterói reaffirms its position as one of the world’s leading outdoor sports destinations with Itacoatiara Pro 2026, taking place from May 22 to June 7, 2026. The event will bring together around 500 athletes across different disciplines, with an estimated audience of 50,000 people. Over the past two years, the international bodyboard competition held in Niterói was voted by the athletes themselves as the best on the circuit, consolidating the event as a global benchmark.
Confirmed names include world champions Amaury Lavernhe (ESP/FRA), Pierre Louis Costes (FRA), Armide Soliveres (ESP), and Tristan Roberts (ZAF), along with Brazilians Uri Valadão, current world champion, Neymara Carvalho, five-time world champion, Mayra Vianna, world champion, Luna Hardman, and Luka Zaninotto. Other national highlights include Eder Luciano and Mayla Venturin, who have just won the Pan-American Championship in Peru. Eder will compete in both the World and Brazilian Championships, while Mayla will participate in the national event. The competition will also feature Isaac Maraga, a 14-year-old from Niterói, who will be the youngest athlete to compete in the city’s stage of the world bodyboard circuit.
“I love Itacoatiara Beach and feel fulfilled promoting it through the festival, contributing to the city’s economy with sports and tourism. I feel immense pride when I hear people say that Itacoatiara Pro is a heritage of Niterói!” says founder Giulliano Lara.
Among the new features of this edition, skateboarding will be contested in the street modality at the São Francisco Skate Park, strengthening the event’s connection with contemporary urban culture.
Professional surfing will take place in an exclusive format, with invited athletes facing Itacoatiara’s iconic waves, known for exceeding two meters in height. Participants include Pedro Scooby, Lucas Chumbo, and Raoni Monteiro, as well as Argentine Nacho Gundesen, two-time Itacoatiara Pro champion in the surf category.
Bodysurf will bring together invited athletes and specialists, with a highlight on Kalani Lattanzi, a Niterói native considered one of the greatest names worldwide in the discipline. Recognized as one of today’s leading watermen, Kalani also excels in bodyboard and surf, including giant wave performances in Nazaré, Portugal.
“The Itacoatiara Pro is amazing! Our sports department and Mayor Rodrigo Neves have supported this festival since its beginning in 2012, and it’s rewarding to see how much it has grown. Niterói deserves grand events like this, which will become increasingly frequent, especially with the inauguration of Arena Niterói in the city center,” says Luiz Carlos Gallo, Municipal Secretary of Sports.
Beyond competitions, Itacoatiara Pro emphasizes participation. The cycling tour, open to the public, takes place on May 31 and is expected to gather between 1,000 and 5,000 people. Meeting point will be at 7 a.m. at São Francisco Skate Park, with departure at 8 a.m. The route will pass through São Francisco, Charitas, the Charitas-Cafubá tunnel, and Piratininga Waterfront Park, finishing at Piratininga Beach. The activity integrates public mobility policies and encourages sustainable use of urban spaces .
The audience experience goes beyond high-performance sports, with open activities such as skate and bodyboard lessons, yoga, slackline, and functional training, engaging diverse profiles in the outdoor sports universe. The event is presented by the City of Niterói and the Municipal Department of Sports and Leisure. All programming is free.
Sustainability is one of the event’s pillars, reflected in a program dedicated to environmental education and community engagement. In partnership with INEA, the Itaipu Extractive Reserve, and the Serra da Tiririca State Park, the festival promotes workshops, exhibitions, ecological walks, and educational actions, along with projects such as Primeira Onda, ECOARTE, and Instituto Skate Cuida, which expand access to sports and strengthen ties with the local community.
SERVICE
Itacoatiara Pro 2026
May 22 to June 7
Main competitions:
• World Bodyboard Championship: May 22–31
• Brazilian Bodyboard Championship: June 1–3
• Surf and Bodysurf: June 4–7
• Skate (Street): June 6–7
• Cycling Tour: May 31
Locations:
• Itacoatiara Beach
• São Francisco Skate Park
Free event
Instagram: @itacoatiarapro
Press contacts:
Andrea Pessôa – andrea@andreapessoa.com
Chris Martins – christinamartins1@gmail.com
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