October 16, 2026
Your Exclusive Guide to the Inaugural Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO
With just days to go till competitors, family, friends and supporters arrive in Perth, excitement is building for the inaugural Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO.
From 23-25 October, wounded, injured and ill service personnel and veterans from Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea will come together for three days of sport, connection and community in Perth.
Whether you’re attending in person or cheering from home, this guide has everything you need to follow the festival and be part of the experience.
wHAT IS THE INVICTUS AUSTRALIA SPORTS FESTIVAL, 2026?
Held in Australia for the first time, the festival will bring the Invictus movement to the Indo-Pacific region, expanding opportunities for international adaptive sporting experiences year-round for veterans and families.
Developed with the support of the Invictus Games Foundation, the Festival will bring together up to 60 wounded, injured and ill service personnel and veterans from Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea to compete in Indoor Rowing, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming and Pickleball.
The competition begins against the stunning backdrop of Perth’s Scarborough Beach, with Swimming and Indoor Rowing on 24 October 2026, followed by Pickleball and Sitting Volleyball on Sunday, 25 October. We thank our venue hosts, the City of Stirling and VenuesWest, for supporting the festival.
Download the full competition schedule below
wHO IS COMPETING FOR aUSTRALIA?
Thirty former-serving Australian Defence Force veterans are preparing to make history as Team Australia, Presented by Austability.
Together, they represent communities across the country, and each brings their own stories and experiences to the team.
Read more about the Team Australia, Presented by Austability
wHAT SPORTS ARE THE COMPETITORS TAKING PART IN?
There are four sports making up the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, selected to provide inclusive, adaptive and team-based opportunities that support participation across a broad range of abilities and experience levels.
Indoor Rowing
Indoor Rowing is a highly accessible sport that allows competitors to race over a set time or distance on rowing machines. It supports participation across a wide range of impairments and provides a powerful measure of endurance, strength and determination.
For the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO, Indoor Rowing is split into three events: 1-minute individual sprint, 4-minute individual endurance and an exciting addition, a pairs relay. In the Pairs Relay, two competitors row side-by-side on neighbouring rowing machines, combining their efforts to complete 500 metres as quickly as possible.
Pickleball
Pickleball is an inclusive paddle sport combining element of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played on a smaller court using paddles and a plastic ball.
At the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented By ATCO, Pickleball will be plated as a double’s competition, supporting both ambulant and hybrid participation where possible.
Ambulant doubles consist of two standing competitors, while hybrid doubles consist of one standing competitor and one wheelchair competitor. Each game is played to a minimum of 11 points, win by 2.
Sitting Volleyball
Sitting Volleyball is a fast, inclusive team sport played from a seated position on the floor. It encourages teamwork, communication, agility and tactical awareness. It is particularly well suited to adaptive sport environments because it allows competitors with different impairments to compete together.
At the Invictus Australia Sport Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO, matches are best of three sets. Sets one and two are played to 21 points, while the third set is played to 15 points. A two-point advantage is required to win, and in the third set, teams switch sides when the first team reaches 8 points.
Swimming
Swimming is an inclusive and highly adaptable sport that allows competitors to participate across a range of strokes and distances. At the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO, Swimming events will be split into; 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke and Mixed 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay.
HOW TO SUPPORT COMPETITORS?
There are many ways to support competitors during the Festival, whether you’re in Perth or cheering from home.
The Festival gets underway at Scarborough Beach with a full day of Indoor Rowing, Swimming and the Community Sport Expo.
Yoga by Karney Armstrong | From 6AM
Join Karney and Andy from Invisible Injuries for a free morning yoga session at Scarborough Beach. All ages and abilities welcome. Competitors get first priority.
parkrun | From 8AM
Come and kick the morning off with the great community at Perry Lakes parkrun, as we come together as part of the Invictus Australia Sports Festival here in Perth.
Indoor Rowing | From 9:00 am
Head to Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre to cheer on competitors as they take on the Indoor Rowing competition.
Community Sport Expo | From 11:30 am
Free and open to everyone, the Community Sport Expo is your chance to try a range of sports, connect with the veteran community and discover how sport can support wellbeing, recovery and connection.
Swimming | From 3:00 pm
The action moves to Scarborough Beach Pool for an afternoon of Swimming competition.
Get your free ticket to Swimming
Sunday 25 October | Perth HPC
The final day of competition takes place at Perth High Performance Centre (Perth HPC), featuring Pickleball and Sitting Volleyball.
Spectators are encouraged to attend and cheer on competitors as they take part in the final events of the Festival.
TAKE A VIRTUAL SEAT
You can also show your support by taking a Virtual Seat. Whether you choose a seat, row or corporate box, your name will become part of a visible display of encouragement, reminding competitors that they have a community behind them every step of the way.
Partner support
The Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO, is made possible through the support of valued partners who share our commitment to supporting veterans and their families through the power of sport, connection and community.
Festival partners include 9News Perth, Austability, Bupa, Commonwealth Bank, VenuesWest, IPAR and the Stirling City Council. Delivered with the support of the Invictus Games Foundation, the Festival creates more opportunities for recovery, connection and international adaptive sport between Invictus Games, closer to home across the Indo-Pacific.
The Festival is also being delivered alongside sporting partners Rowing Australia, Rowing WA, Pickleball Australia, Masters Swimming Australia, Swimming WA and Volleyball WA, whose expertise is helping create high-quality competition experiences for competitors.
Venues
Scarborough Beach
Scarborough Beach will host Indoor Rowing, Swimming and Community Day activities. Located on Perth’s coastline, the venue provides a vibrant festival atmosphere where competitors, families and supporters can come together to connect and celebrate the Invictus spirit.
Venue Address: Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre and Scarborough Beach Pool, Scarborough WA.
A range of public parking options are available throughout the Scarborough Beach precinct, including accessible parking bays located close to key event areas. Accessible pathways connect the amphitheatre, foreshore and surrounding facilities. Visitors are encouraged to allow extra time during peak periods, particularly on Community Day.
Perth High Performance Centre (Perth HPC)
Perth HPC will host Pickleball and Sitting Volleyball competitions. As one of Western Australia’s leading sporting facilities, Perth HPC provides a world-class environment for competitors to take part in adaptive sport and showcase the power of recovery through participation.
Venue Address: 100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont WA 6010.
Perth HPC offers more than 1,100 on-site parking spaces, including accessible parking bays and motorcycle parking. The venue also features accessible pathways and facilities to support competitors, families and spectators attending the Festival.
Can’t make it to Perth?
Whether you’re competing, supporting a loved one, volunteering or cheering from home, thank you for being part of the inaugural Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO.
Together, we’re building connection, community and opportunities for veterans and families through the power of sport.
How to follow along at home?
To get all your Invictus Australia Sports Festival, Presented by ATCO content make sure you keep an eye out on our socials for all things Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026, Presented by ATCO.
@InvictusAustralia on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Stay up to date with the sporting events in your local community by joining your local Facebook group.
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