Sikh Games 2026 Melbourne – Date, Venue, Sports and the Story Behind AUZ Punjabi FC

Melbourne is gearing up to host the 38th Australian Sikh Games from 3 to 5 April 2026 at Parkville — and the excitement across Australia's Punjabi community has never been louder. As the countdown begins, Radio Haanji 1674 AM host Ranjodh Singh has been sitting down with the clubs competing in this year's Sikh Games, bringing their stories directly to the community.

One of those conversations was with Prabhjit Singh Biling, president of AUZ Punjabi FC (AUZ Punjabi Football Club) — a Melbourne-based community club whose journey captures everything the Sikh Games stand for.

AUZ Punjabi FC: From 20 Kids to a Full-Grown Club

When AUZ Punjabi FC was founded in 2019, it started with a simple idea — give Melbourne's Punjabi youth a place to play football, build friendships, and stay connected to their roots. What began with around 20 children in junior age groups has grown into a club of over 100 players, fielding teams from Under-7 all the way through to senior level, with multiple squads competing in several age divisions simultaneously.

The club was founded specifically with the Australian Sikh Games in mind, and since its very first season, AUZ Punjabi FC has travelled to every state in Australia to represent Melbourne on the national stage. The 2026 edition in Melbourne is a full-circle moment — seven years of work coming home.

What drives the club goes beyond wins and trophies. In a city where life is fast-paced and screens compete for children's attention, AUZ Punjabi FC offers something harder to find: a ground to run on, a team to belong to, and a culture to be proud of. The club emphasises discipline, sportsmanship, physical fitness, and cultural identity — giving young Australians of Punjabi heritage a space where both sides of who they are can coexist comfortably.

For Ranjodh Singh and the Radio Haanji audience, the story of AUZ Punjabi FC is the story of a community quietly doing the work — and 2026 is their moment to shine in front of a home crowd.

The 38th Australian Sikh Games – Everything You Need to Know

What Are the Australian Sikh Games?

The Australian Sikh Games (ASG) are the largest annual Sikh sporting and cultural event in the Southern Hemisphere — and one of the most significant multicultural events in Australia's calendar. Organised by ANSSACC (Australian National Sikh Sports and Cultural Council), the Games are held every year over Easter and rotate between Australia's major cities.

The Games draw crowds of over 100,000 people across three days, during which 8,000+ athletes and performers compete in 15 different sports and cultural activities, with approximately 120 not-for-profit sporting and cultural clubs actively taking part. International participants travel from New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong to compete.

This is not just a sports tournament. It is a reunion, a celebration, a cultural festival, and a statement about who Sikhs are in modern Australia — competitive, community-driven, and deeply proud.

Sikh Games 2026 Melbourne: Dates, Venue and Key Details

Detail	Information
Event	38th Australian Sikh Games Melbourne 2026
Dates	3–5 April 2026 (Easter Weekend)
Venue	Princes Park State Sport Centres, 10 Brens Drive, Parkville VIC 3052
Organiser	ANSSACC + Local Organising Committee
Official Website	asgmel2026.com
Registration	anssacc.org/sports-registration

Sports at the Australian Sikh Games 2026

The Sikh Games Melbourne 2026 will feature the following sports and events:

• Hockey
• Soccer / Football
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Kabaddi
• Cricket
• Tennis
• Badminton
• Golf
• Athletics
• Powerlifting
• Netball
• Touch Football
• AFL Nines
• Tug-of-War
• Sports for All Abilities (new addition for 2026)

The introduction of Sports for All Abilities in 2026 is a landmark moment for the Australian Sikh Games — a formal recognition that these games belong to every member of the community, regardless of physical ability.

Jashan Di Raat – A Night to Remember

The sporting action wraps up with Jashan Di Raat, a gala celebration evening on Sunday 5 April 2026 at the prestigious Crown Palladium, Southbank Melbourne — the same venue that hosts the AFL Brownlow Medal and the Allan Border Medal. Guests can expect a three-course dinner, live music, cultural performances, and a dance floor that will keep going until late. Tickets are available via TryBooking.

Government Recognition and Support

The 2026 Sikh Games in Melbourne have received $450,000 in funding from the Australian Federal Government, a testament to the event's cultural, social, and economic significance. The Victoria State Government and the City of Melbourne are also supporting partners. This level of institutional backing reflects how the Australian Sikh Games have grown from a community weekend into a nationally recognised event.

A Brief History of the Australian Sikh Games

The Australian Sikh Games began in 1988 as a field hockey competition between teams from South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. What started as a single-sport event in Adelaide has expanded across nearly four decades into a multi-sport, multi-day, multi-city festival that travels the country each year.

The Games have been hosted in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Coffs Harbour. Each city brings its own character to the event, but the spirit remains constant — sport as a bridge between generations, between cities, and between the Punjab left behind and the Australia built here.

Melbourne has hosted the Games multiple times, with the 2026 edition marking a return to the city after the 2019 Games were also held here — the very Games that inspired the founding of AUZ Punjabi FC.

Why the Sikh Games Matter

Australian Sikhs number over 210,000 people and account for 0.8% of Australia's population as of the 2021 Census, making it the country's fastest-growing and fifth-largest religious group. The Sikh Games are one of the most visible and joyful expressions of that community's presence — a three-day reminder that Sikh and Punjabi culture in Australia is thriving, competitive, generous, and here to stay.

Beyond the scoreboard, the Games carry values that echo through Sikh philosophy: seva (selfless service), community(sangat), and equality — visible in the free langar served to thousands of attendees each day, regardless of background or belief.

For clubs like AUZ Punjabi FC, the Games are a mission made visible. Every Under-7 player who steps onto the field at Parkville in April is proof that those values are being passed on.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the Sikh Games 2026 in Melbourne?

The 38th Australian Sikh Games run from 3 to 5 April 2026 over the Easter long weekend.

Where are the Australian Sikh Games 2026 held?

The main venue is Princes Park State Sport Centres, 10 Brens Drive, Parkville, Melbourne VIC 3052.

How do I register for the Australian Sikh Games 2026?

Team registrations are open at anssacc.org/sports-registration. For general information, visit asgmel2026.com.

What sports are in the 2026 Sikh Games?

15+ sports including Hockey, Soccer, Kabaddi, Cricket, Basketball, Volleyball, Netball, Badminton, Tennis, Powerlifting, Athletics, AFL Nines, Touch Football, Tug-of-War, Golf, and Sports for All Abilities (new in 2026).

Are the Sikh Games only for Sikhs?

No. The Australian Sikh Games are open to everyone. The event celebrates multiculturalism and welcomes participants and spectators of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities.

What is AUZ Punjabi FC?

AUZ Punjabi FC is a community football club based in Melbourne, established in 2019. The club has grown from 20 players to over 100, competes in the Australian Sikh Games every year, and focuses on youth development, fitness, and cultural pride.

Listen Live on Radio Haanji 1674 AM

Radio Haanji 1674 AM is Melbourne's home for Punjabi community radio. As the official media partner covering the lead-up to Sikh Games Melbourne 2026, Radio Haanji continues its podcast series featuring clubs, coaches, and community leaders from across Australia who are preparing to compete in April.

Tune in to AM 1674 or listen online at radiohaanji.com.au for the latest updates, interviews, and live coverage of the 38th Australian Sikh Games.

For event information: asgmel2026.com For team registration: anssacc.org/sports-registration For Radio Haanji: radiohaanji.com.au

Radio Haanji 1674 AM | Punjabi Podcast | Broadcasting from Melbourne, Australia
Listen free at haanji.com.au | Available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
Serving the Punjabi community across Melbourne · Sydney · Brisbane · Australia · Worldwide