The 2026 National Indigenous Cricket Championships are set to welcome an international guest next month, with Papua New Guinea joining the fray for the first time. <\/p>\n
Mackay will play host to eight men\u2019s and five women\u2019s teams from April 14 to 19.<\/p>\n
The finals will be broadcast live from Yuwibara Country on NITV across April 18 and 19, with expanded coverage over the two days.<\/p>\n
Viewers will also be able to watch via SBS On Demand, while all other matches will be streamed on Cricket Australia\u2019s YouTube channel.<\/p>\n
Queensland will defend its men\u2019s title on home soil against New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory. <\/p>\n
Papua New Guinea\u2019s men\u2019s national team, the Barramundis, will take part for the first time as an invitational side, competing in the round matches but not eligible for points or the final.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s competition, Western Australia returns after claiming its maiden title in 2025, alongside Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. <\/p>\n
The South Australian squad will include players from the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
Matches will be played in a round-robin format between April 14 and 18, with April 17 set aside as a cultural activity day. The top two teams in each division will progress to their respective finals at Great Barrier Reef Arena on April 19, with additional matches staged at surrounding grounds in Harrup Park.<\/p>\n
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The 2026 tournament marks 10 years since the championships became a standalone event after originating from the Imparja Cup. <\/p>\n
Cricket Australia\u2019s chief of cricket, James Allsopp, said the competition would again bring together leading First Nations players from across the country.<\/p>\n
He said the inclusion of Papua New Guinea players, including members of the Barramundis and Lewas programs, reflected ongoing links between Indigenous cricket pathways and the PacificAus Sports initiative.<\/p>\n
Dena Curtis, head of Indigenous commissioning and production at NITV, said the event was a \u201cpowerful celebration of Black excellence\u201d that combined culture, community and elite sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cNITV is proud to continue working with Cricket Australia to bring the finals to audiences across the country,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cExpanded two-day coverage ensures more Australians can witness the talent and connect with the strength, pride and future of First Nations cricket on a national stage.\u201d<\/p>\n