The stage is set for another thrilling edition of the SPAR National Netball Championships when South Africa's largest annual inter-district netball tournament heads to Stellenberg High School, Cape Town, from 6-11 August 2026.
Defending champions Johannesburg will be chasing a fifth consecutive national title after edging Cape Town 52-51 in last year's dramatic final in Boksburg. The victory came after Johannesburg had opened the tournament with a defeat to the Cape side in the round-robin stages before fighting their way back to lift the trophy.
Johannesburg also returns as the defending Under-21 champions, setting up another exciting week of competition as the country's top emerging and established players battle for national honours.
A total of 122 teams, including 58 senior district sides and 64 under-21 teams, will compete across six days, with approximately 1 900 players and 100 umpires converging on Cape Town.
Matches will be played across two venues, including two indoor courts with specialised flooring, eight outdoor courts – three with floodlights – and additional courts at Gene Louw Primary School.
The championships culminate on Tuesday, 11 August, with the under-21 final followed by the senior final.
Taking place during Women's Month, the tournament will also celebrate Women's Day on 9 August, shining a spotlight on the continued growth and success of women's sport in South Africa.
The SPAR National Netball Championships remain a key talent identification platform for Netball South Africa, with many current and former SPAR Proteas having first showcased their abilities at the annual tournament.
Netball South Africa President Mami Diale expressed her excitement ahead of the tournament. “For many years, the SPAR National Netball Championships have been a valuable platform for university clubs and coaches to discover the untapped talent available in the country. The tournament’s consistent growth demonstrates the talent and the desire of thousands of young girls to play the sport.
Diale also paid tribute to tournament sponsors, SPAR.
“SPAR is a strategic partner of Netball South Africa and plays a crucial role in its development. Their unwavering support is essential to realising our vision and creating elite and professional tournaments,” she said.
“Netball South Africa has also partnered with SPAR in their End Period Poverty campaign. The aim is to ensure that no girl misses school, training or matches because she cannot afford sanitary products. This initiative will touch the lives of all girls playing netball in South Africa who are experiencing menstruation. A confident player is a safer one.”
Mpudi Maubane, SPAR Group PR, Communications and Sponsorship Manager, said: “For decades, SPAR has been a proud supporter of women and continues to celebrate the invaluable contribution women make, not only through sport, but through initiatives that uplift communities and create meaningful opportunities.
“We believe that when women thrive, families flourish, communities grow stronger and our nation moves forward. As part of that commitment, we continue to raise awareness about issues that affect far too many women and girls: Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and period poverty. Throughout the championships, we will reinforce our commitment that there is no place in our society for either GBV or period poverty.
“These Championships also reflect the vision of Netball South Africa President Mami Diale, 'Netball for One, Netball for All. ' It is a vision that SPAR supports as we build and continue our journey towards the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Chairperson of Cape Town Netball and the Local Organising Committee, Hanlie van der Merwe, added: “It is a great honour to host this year’s SPAR National Netball Championships. It’s such a prestigious event and one where we’ve seen many of our SPAR Proteas emerge over the years.
“We hope that Cape Town’s hosting of this event will inspire many junior players in the area to work hard to one day be part of these championships and eventually go on to even greater things. For young girls in the area, having the opportunity to see these players in action plays a big part in promoting and developing netball in the Western Cape.
“We are also incredibly proud of Stellenberg High School, who are providing one of the best netball facilities in the country for these championships, and my thanks go to my team who have put in countless hours of hard work to make this event a success.”
Selected matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport, with broadcast details to be announced closer to the tournament.
Teams:
Senior A section: Johannesburg A, Mangaung, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Cape Town A, Tshwane A, Nelson Mandela Bay A, Alfred Nzo, Botswana
Under 21 A Section: Johannesburg A, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Tshwane, Cape Town, Ekurhuleni, Royal Bafokeng