Virginia Beach Welcomes Major Surf Festival, New Hotel Opening and Fresh Experiences in 2026

February 13, 2026 Billy Walker

Virginia Beach is adding a high-profile international surf event alongside new attractions and accommodations in 2026, giving travellers and travel advisors new reasons to look beyond the destination’s traditional peak summer season.

Headlining the year’s additions is the arrival of the Super Girl Festival, a globally recognized all-female action sports weekend making its Virginia Beach debut this September. Anchored by the world’s largest women’s surf event, the free multi-day festival is expected to bring together more than 4,000 female athletes competing across surfing, beach volleyball, soccer and skateboarding. Beyond competition, the festival will also feature live concerts, fitness classes and celebrity speakers, transforming the oceanfront into a large-scale lifestyle and sports experience.

“Events like the Super Girl Festival are about community and connection, and we know that resonates with our Canadian visitors,” said Nancy Helman, Director of Visit Virginia Beach. “Canadian travellers have long been an important part of our story, and Virginia Beach remains an open, welcoming place to experience our world-class events and vibrant coastline.”

The additions were among the reasons Virginia Beach was included on The New York Times’ annual 52 Places to Go list for 2026, placing the destination alongside global hotspots experiencing notable growth and transformation.

Another major draw is Atlantic Park, a $350-million surf lagoon and entertainment district that opened in 2025. The outdoor attraction delivers consistent, year-round wave conditions for surfers of all levels while anchoring a growing dining and entertainment hub steps from the boardwalk, helping extend travel demand into shoulder seasons.

New accommodation is also coming online with the opening of The Sitio, a 20-room boutique property in the heart of Atlantic Park now taking reservations ahead of its March debut. Designed with a surf-lodge aesthetic, the hotel features curated social spaces, a pool deck and an all-day bar, with direct access to the surf lagoon and walkable restaurants and entertainment nearby.

Cultural experiences continue to add depth to the destination as well. The ViBe Creative District has become a focal point for bold public murals, independent studios and creative spaces, while the restored Francis Land House now offers immersive exhibits exploring early 19th-century life alongside the stories of enslaved people connected to the property.

With a major new festival, fresh accommodation inventory and year-round attractions, Virginia Beach is giving travellers new reasons to return, and providing travel advisors with expanded opportunities to package the destination across multiple seasons.

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