NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout 2026: The Complete Guide

The 2026 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout — known to most simply as the Koori Knockout — is one of the largest gatherings of First Nations peoples on the calendar, bringing together communities from across NSW for a weekend of rugby league and Blak excellence. Now in its 54th year, it runs from Thursday 1 October through to Monday 5 October, hosted on Worimi Country in Raymond Terrace.

Hosted by the reigning champions

This year's carnival is hosted by the Newcastle Yowies, who claimed all four grand finals — men's, women's, and juniors — in a single day at last year's event, a record-setting achievement in the tournament's history. The Yowies will welcome teams and communities from across the state to Kings Park Sporting Complex.

More than 180 teams

What began in 1971 with just seven teams has grown into one of the largest Indigenous sporting events in the world, with more than 180 teams set to compete across the men's, women's, and junior competitions in 2026. The Knockout has also become a genuine pathway to the NRL, with stars including Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr, Jack Wighton, and Greg Inglis all having played at the carnival before reaching the top grade.

How to watch live

NITV is the exclusive broadcaster of the 2026 Koori Knockout, with coverage also available on SBS On Demand across the full October long weekend. As each match goes live, we'll add the direct link on our Watch page so you can get straight through to the broadcast without hunting for it.

Teams and schedule

See the full team lineup on our Teams page, and the match schedule as fixtures are confirmed on our Schedule page.

A weekend bigger than football

For the communities involved, the Knockout has always meant more than what happens on the field. It's a chance for families to reunite, for communities to gather, and for the winning team to earn hosting rights the following year, bringing the carnival home to their own Country.