School Sport Australia (SSA) hosts 29 national championships across 18 sports in 2026, running from February through early December.
Melbourne anchors the calendar with two major multi-sport festivals: SSAG04 in late July and SSAG06 in late November.
Additionally, Adelaide hosts the 18 Years and Under Baseball Championship in late April, while Newcastle runs a 12 Years and Under multi-sport block in October.
This guide covers every confirmed SSA championship with exact dates, age groups, and venues.
Full School Sport Australia 2026 Calendar
The table below covers every confirmed SSA national championship in 2026, listed in chronological order. Additionally, an asterisk (*) next to a sport indicates that age dispensation is approved for that championship.
| Travel Dates | Sport | Age Group | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 – 27 February | Cricket* | 15 Years and Under | Bunbury, WA |
| 16 – 20 March | Triathlon & Aquathlon | 11 to 19 Years | Gold Coast, QLD |
| 26 April – 2 May | Baseball | 18 Years and Under | Adelaide, SA |
| 2 – 8 May | Tennis | 18 Years and Under | Perth, WA |
| 24 – 29 May | Softball | 18 Years and Under | Blacktown, NSW |
| 25 – 30 July | Volleyball* | 15 Years and Under | Parkville, Melbourne, VIC |
| 25 – 31 July | Basketball* | 16 Years and Under | Parkville, Melbourne, VIC |
| 25 – 31 July | Football (Soccer) | 18 Years and Under | Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC |
| 25 – 31 July | Netball* | 15 Years and Under | Parkville, Melbourne, VIC |
| 25 – 31 July | Australian Football | 14 Years and Under | Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC |
| 25 – 30 July | Swimming | 13 to 19 Years | Albert Park, Melbourne, VIC |
| 25 – 31 July | Diving | 10 to 19 Years | Albert Park, Melbourne, VIC |
| 25 – 31 July | Hockey* | 15 Years and Under | Parkville, Melbourne, VIC |
| 2 – 9 August | Australian Football | 12 Years and Under | Canberra, ACT |
| 9 – 14 August | Rugby League | 12 Years and Under | Ballina, NSW |
| 22 – 28 August | Tennis* | 12 Years and Under | Brisbane, QLD |
| 22 – 28 August | Golf* | 18 Years and Under | Fingal, VIC |
| 6 – 10 September | Bowls* | 18 Years and Under | Ocean Grove, VIC |
| 12 – 18 September | Netball* | 12 Years and Under | Darwin, NT |
| 14 – 17 September | Cross Country | 10 to 19 Years | Sydney, NSW |
| 24 – 30 October | Cricket* | 12 Years and Under | Newcastle, NSW |
| 25 – 30 October | Basketball* | 12 Years and Under | Newcastle, NSW |
| 25 – 30 October | Football (Soccer)* | 12 Years and Under | Newcastle, NSW |
| 25 – 29 October | Golf* | 12 Years and Under | Newcastle, NSW |
| 25 – 30 October | Hockey* | 12 Years and Under | Newcastle, NSW |
| 25 – 30 October | Softball* | 12 Years and Under | Newcastle, NSW |
| 25 – 30 October | Touch Football* | Combined | Newcastle, NSW |
| 29 November – 3 December | Swimming | 10 to 12 Years | Albert Park, Melbourne, VIC |
| 29 November – 3 December | Track & Field | 10 to 12 Years | Albert Park, Melbourne, VIC |
Calendar current as of 12 February 2026. Dates are subject to change. Asterisk () indicates age dispensation is approved.*
Major SSA Multi-Sport Events in 2026
Melbourne hosts two flagship multi-sport festivals in 2026, both confirmed by School Sport Australia in February. Furthermore, these events bring together secondary and primary school athletes across multiple disciplines in one location.
SSAG04: 25 – 31 July 2026 (Melbourne)
The School Sport Australia Games 04 features secondary school athletes across eight sports, all hosted in Melbourne during the same week. As a result, this is the largest single-week SSA event of the year.
| Sport | Age Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming | 13 to 19 Years | Albert Park |
| Diving | 10 to 19 Years | Albert Park |
| Basketball | 16 Years and Under | Parkville |
| Hockey | 15 Years and Under | Parkville |
| Australian Football | 14 Years and Under | Bundoora |
| Football (Soccer) | 18 Years and Under | Bundoora |
| Netball | 15 Years and Under | Parkville |
| Volleyball | 15 Years and Under | Parkville |
SSAG06: 29 November – 3 December 2026 (Melbourne)
The School Sport Australia Games 06 follows in late November, focused on primary school athletes. Specifically, this event brings together swimming and track and field athletes aged 10 to 12 years.
| Sport | Age Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming | 10 to 12 Years | Albert Park |
| Track & Field | 10 to 12 Years | Albert Park |
Newcastle Multi-Sport Block: 24 – 30 October 2026
Newcastle hosts a major 12 Years and Under multi-sport block in late October, bringing together seven sports across the same week. Additionally, this event covers most of the primary school national championships outside Melbourne.
| Sport | Dates |
|---|---|
| Cricket | 24 – 30 October |
| Basketball | 25 – 30 October |
| Football (Soccer) | 25 – 30 October |
| Golf | 25 – 29 October |
| Hockey | 25 – 30 October |
| Softball | 25 – 30 October |
| Touch Football | 25 – 30 October |
Calendar by Month
The 2026 SSA calendar starts in late February and runs through to early December. Furthermore, the busiest months are July (10 events) and October (7 events).
| Month | Number of Events |
|---|---|
| February | 1 |
| March | 1 |
| April – May | 2 |
| May | 1 |
| July | 8 |
| August | 4 |
| September | 3 |
| October | 7 |
| November – December | 2 |
| Total | 29 |
Calendar by State / Territory
Victoria hosts the most championships in 2026, driven by the Melbourne SSAG04 and SSAG06 multi-sport events. Meanwhile, NSW hosts the second-highest number due to the Newcastle 12U block in October.
| State / Territory | Number of Events |
|---|---|
| Victoria | 12 |
| New South Wales | 9 |
| Queensland | 2 |
| Western Australia | 2 |
| South Australia | 1 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1 |
| Northern Territory | 1 |
| Tasmania | 0 |
Age Groups Covered
SSA championships span primary and secondary school athletes, with ages ranging from 10 to 19 years. Moreover, age dispensation is approved for 14 of the 29 championships, allowing exceptions for younger athletes who meet specific criteria.
| Age Bracket | Sports Covered |
|---|---|
| 10 to 12 Years | Swimming, Track & Field, Cricket, Basketball, Football (Soccer), Golf, Hockey, Softball, Touch Football, Tennis, Netball, Australian Football, Rugby League |
| 13 to 19 Years | Swimming, Diving, Triathlon & Aquathlon, Cross Country |
| 14 to 16 Years | Australian Football, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, Netball, Volleyball |
| 18 Years and Under | Baseball, Tennis, Softball, Football (Soccer), Golf, Bowls |
Age Dispensation Explained
Sports marked with an asterisk (*) on the SSA calendar have age dispensation approved.
This means specific athletes outside the standard age bracket may be allowed to compete under SSA’s sport participation policy.
Furthermore, the policy outlines the eligibility criteria and request process for age dispensation, which schools must submit through their state SSA body.
Also Read:
Conclusion: SSA 2026 Calendar Overview
The School Sport Australia 2026 calendar delivers 29 national championships across 18 sports, spanning February through to early December.
Melbourne’s SSAG04 in late July is the centrepiece of the year. Furthermore, the Newcastle 12U block in October and the Albert Park primary school multi-sport in late November round out a packed schedule.
Additionally, athletes aged 10 to 19 years compete across all six states and the ACT, making this one of the most comprehensive school sport calendars in the world.
