Nazaré has the biggest waves ever surfed, but not all year. The giants at Praia do Norte depend on North Atlantic storms, and the season runs from October to March.
This guide covers when they hit, what it takes to make a giant day, the biggest swells on record and why Nazaré gets so big.
Nazaré season at a glance
Season: October to March
Best months: November to February, when North Atlantic storms are strongest and most frequent
What makes a giant day: west-northwest to northwest swell, long period and light east (offshore) wind
Where to watch: the lighthouse at Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, above Praia do Norte
Contest: the WSL Big Wave Challenge sits on hold through winter and is called with 24 to 48 hours' notice
When do the giant waves hit Nazaré?
Nazaré has waves all year, but the giants depend on North Atlantic storms. They build through autumn and peak in midwinter.
| Month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| October | First northwest swells. Big days are possible but usually short-lived |
| November | The season gets going. Some of the biggest records came in this month |
| December | More frequent, stronger storms. The classic contest window |
| January | Peak season. Long-period swells, one after another |
| February | Still very strong, with some perfect offshore days |
| March | The season winds down. The last big swells |
What most people miss: swell size alone is not enough. A true giant day needs three things at once:
Direction: west-northwest to northwest, the angle that lines the swell up with the canyon
Long period: above 15 seconds. The biggest days usually go past 18 seconds, when the energy runs deep
Light or offshore wind: an east wind grooms the wave face. Strong north or west wind ruins it, however big the swell
In short: a 6 m swell at 18 seconds with an east wind does far more at Nazaré than an 8 m swell at 11 seconds with strong wind.
To see whether a big day is coming, check those three numbers in the Praia do Norte surf forecast.
The biggest swells in Nazaré history
Every major Nazaré record fell between late October and February:
| Date | What happened | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2011 | Garrett McNamara (USA) puts Nazaré on the map | about 24 m (78 ft) |
| Nov 8, 2017 | Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) breaks the world record | 24.38 m (80 ft) |
| Feb 11, 2020 | Maya Gabeira (BRA), women's world record | 22.4 m (73.5 ft) |
| Oct 29, 2020 | Sebastian Steudtner (GER), current world record | 26.21 m (86 ft) |
| Dec 13, 2025 | WSL contest day; Michelle des Bouillons' wave | 24.99 m (82 ft), under review |
The December 2025 swell ran the 2025/26 WSL contest at Nazaré, in 40 to 50 ft (12 to 15 m) faces. Lucas "Chumbo" Chianca and Justine Dupont won, and it was also the day Michelle des Bouillons rode the wave she is now taking to Guinness.
Why Nazaré waves are so big: the canyon
What sets Nazaré apart is the Nazaré Canyon, an undersea valley about 230 km long and up to roughly 5,000 m deep, the largest in Europe. It points straight at the coast and ends just off Praia do Norte.
When a big swell arrives, three things happen:
No brakes in deep water. Swell running up the canyon stays in deep water almost to the sand, so it loses very little energy along the way.
Energy bent toward one beach. Swell on either side of the canyon slows in shallower water and bends, which aims it at Praia do Norte, where it meets the swell that came up the canyon.
Wave on top of wave. Where those swell lines cross, the peaks add up. A current along the beach pushes against the incoming waves and stands them up even further.
That is why the wave face at the peak can be several times larger than the swell height the model shows offshore.
Nazaré big wave contest
The WSL Big Wave Challenge at Nazaré has no fixed date. The event sits on hold through winter and is only called when the forecast shows a swell capable of faces above 12 meters (40 ft) with good wind, on 24 to 48 hours' notice.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see big waves in Nazaré?
November to February. The season runs October to March, but midwinter is when North Atlantic storms send the strongest, longest-period swells.
Are there big waves in Nazaré in October?
Sometimes. October opens the season and has produced historic days, including Sebastian Steudtner's world record on October 29, 2020. Most October swells, though, are mid-sized.
How do I know when Nazaré will be giant?
Look at three numbers in the forecast: west-northwest to northwest swell, a period above 15 seconds, and light or east wind. When all three line up, Praia do Norte tends to get huge.
What is the biggest wave ever surfed at Nazaré?
The official world record belongs to Sebastian Steudtner, at 26.21 m (86 ft) at Praia do Norte in October 2020.
Where is the best place to watch the waves in Nazaré?
The lighthouse at Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, on the headland above Praia do Norte. On big days, get there early: mornings tend to be less windy and the headland fills up.
When is the WSL contest at Nazaré?
There is no fixed date. The event is on hold through winter and called with 24 to 48 hours' notice when a big swell with good wind shows up. The 2025/26 edition ran on December 13, 2025.
Heading to Nazaré?
Before you go, check the Praia do Norte surf forecast. On big days, the town beach, Praia da Nazaré, and the sheltered bay at São Martinho do Porto are far calmer options.
Cover photo: surfer on a 10-meter wave at Nazaré, by Carlos Eduardo Joos, CC BY 2.0.
