German big-wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner rode a 26.21-meter (86-foot) wave off Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, on October 29, 2020, the largest wave ever officially surfed according to Guinness World Records. Nazare's underwater canyon funnels open-ocean swells into some of the biggest breaking waves on the planet, drawing top big-wave surfers each winter. The record has turned the small fishing town into a global surfing landmark.
Record no. MRB-2026-005861
Largest wave ever surfed
Reference Record – Not Certified
This record is compiled from publicly available sources for reference. It has not been examined or certified by The Book of World Records.