Postponement – 2026 Australian Polocrosse Nationals, Darwin

We wanted to share an important update with you about the 2026 Australian Polocrosse Nationals in Darwin.

Over the past few weeks, we have been doing a lot of listening, talking, and number crunching to understand whether we could confidently deliver the event this year. This has included a national competitor survey, discussions with all States, and ongoing communications with key stakeholders. After taking everything into account, the Northern Territory Polocrosse Association and Polocrosse Australia have made the difficult decision to postpone the Nationals to June 2027.

We know this is disappointing news.

There has been a huge amount of effort already put in by players, families, sponsors, volunteers and supporters, and we do not take that lightly. But the reality is, the current environment is making things really tough. The sudden rise and uncertainty of fuel costs, concerns around fuel availability and long-distance travel with horses, combined with the indication of reduced participation all point to one thing: we would not be able to deliver the kind of Nationals that everyone expects and deserves. Postponing gives us the best chance to do this properly. It means we can protect the quality of the competition, look after our people and horses, and make sure the event is strong, well supported and something we can all be proud of.

As we look ahead to 2027, the Championships will proceed using the 2026 age group eligibility. We recognise that, with the extended timeframe, some team compositions may change. These decisions will be managed by individual States in line with their usual selection processes.

We know many of you have made travel plans and have been preparing to get to Darwin, and we anticipate the timing of this decision will allow you to make alternative arrangements.

We thank those who have supported the event through ticket and merchandise purchases. The Northern Territory Polocrosse Association will be in contact via official channels regarding refunds and next steps in the coming weeks, with further details to be provided shortly.

Keep an eye on this website and official channels for further updates.

Thank you for your understanding, your support, and for being part of the polocrosse community.

Sincerely,