Australian Masters Games 2027

The Australian Masters Games are returning to Newcastle and the Central Coast from 13 to 20 November 2027, their first time back in the region in 25 years. It's a biennial event and the largest multi-sport participation competition in Australia, so it's a fair bit bigger than your average local carnival. The organisers are expecting up to 12,000 athletes across 50 sports, which should bring a decent crowd into the city over that week.

The Games have a bit of a history behind them. The concept was proposed by Garry Daly, President of the Confederation of Australian Sport, to the Northern Territory government, which set up the Central Australian Masters Games in 1986. The first national Games followed in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1987. They're owned by the Confederation of Australian Sport and state governments, and they're awarded to cities and states that bid to host them. The Newcastle edition marks 40 years since the Games first brought Australians together through sport.

If you're thinking of competing, the age limit is the main thing to keep in mind. For most sports, the minimum age is 30, though some, like gymnastics, set it at 20. With 50 sports on the bill, there's a wide range to choose from, and the whole thing runs from 13 to 20 November 2027 across Newcastle and the Central Coast in New South Wales. The organisers have named Dementia Australia as their charity of choice for this edition.