Netball Australia has announced the staging of the inaugural Spirit Series, a new international tournament celebrating pride, culture and excellence for First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in netball.

Backed by the Federal Government and with support from Netball NSW, the event will be held at Netball Central in Sydney Olympic Park from 8 to 11 July 2026.

Set to feature Netball Australia’s First Nations team, the Black Swans, alongside the national teams of Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Singapore, the series will be held during NAIDOC Week, an annual initiative celebrating and recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Eight elite international matches will be played across four days of competition, complemented by culturally-led community engagement activities designed to inspire the next generation of athletes and strengthen connections across the region.

Netball Australia General Manager – First Nations, Ali Tucker-Munro, said the Spirit Series represents a powerful platform to celebrate culture and connection through sport, commenting “the Spirit Series is an opportunity to celebrate and elevate First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in netball while creating meaningful cultural exchange and connection through sport.

“This event is about acknowledging the spirit and importance of cultural pride, visibility and inspiring communities, while honouring the cultures and stories that make our game stronger.”

Netball Australia Executive General Manager – Netball, Megan Simpson, said the tournament would also play an important role in athlete and official development, adding “the Spirit Series creates a unique high performance environment for emerging athletes, coaches and umpires to gain valuable international experience.

“Through initiatives like the Spirit Series, we’re building stronger development opportunities and supporting the future growth of netball across Australia and the Indo-Pacific.”

The Spirit Series forms part of Netball Australia’s continued commitment to growing international relationships, amplifying the profile of First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in sport, and building momentum towards the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.

Audiences throughout Australia, the Pacific region and the world will be able to watch the Spirit Series live, with broadcast details to be announced in the coming weeks.

The series will be delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports – a Federal Government sports diplomacy initiative which supports sporting excellence across the Pacific, with a focus on strengthening international relationships through sport.