Christchurch, New Zealand, is the setting for the 2026 OCHF Men’s and Women’s Oceania Beach Handball Championship which will take place across three days – Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February.

Hosts New Zealand (NZL) alongside Cook Islands (COK), Kiribati (KIR) and Australia (AUS) will field men’s and women’s teams in the competition, with the winners of both events qualifying directly through to the 2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships, which will take place in Zagreb, Croatia in June.

The Pioneer sand courts, situated in the Pioneer Stadium complex, just 10 minutes from the centre of Christchurch, will be the setting in the New Zealand city, known as the ‘Garden City’ thanks to its numerous parks, tree-lined streets, and iconic Botanic Gardens. The city has been extensively rebuilt and revitalised following the major earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 and now boasts innovative architecture and thriving arts and dining scenes.

The competition coincides with ‘Waitangi Day’ (Māori: Te Rā o Waitangi) which represents the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, which is known as New Zealand’s founding document. The Treaty is an agreement, in Māori and English, that was made between the British Crown and about 540 Māori rangatira (chiefs). This day is now a public holiday in New Zealand.

Home side hoping for rare World Championship spot

The host nation will be hoping their home advantage can seal a rare spot at the global beach handball event. New Zealand’s women have only appeared once at the IHF Beach Handball World Championship, back in 2010, while the men’s team have appeared just twice – making their debut at Russia (Kazan) 2018 after being nominated as a substitute team and then causing an upset, beating hosts Australia at the Oceania championships back in 2022 to qualify for their second appearance.  

Regional powerhouse looking to continue their continental dominance

Australia’s women’s team will be looking to qualify for their seventh, successive world championship appearance after participating in the last six, following their debut in 2012 (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024), while the men can make it seven appearances on the global stage after missing just one edition since their debut (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2024). 

Both teams won the 2023 edition on home sand three years ago and competed in Europe last June in various events, including the European Beach Tour (ebt) Camelot Tournament.

Dreams of a global debut for Cook Islands and Kiribati

A continental title for the Cook Islands and Kiribati will mean their first-ever appearance at the senior event, the Cook Islands hoping to add to their debut youth world championship appearance last year in Tunisia in the men’s competition. Key player from Tunisia 2025, Eli Topui has been named in the Cook Islands senior squad for his debut senior competition appearance.

“We have 24 of our delegation going and we've already had good feedback from our community that they will be supporting us,” said Cook Islands Handball Federation President Makiroa Mitchell-John ahead of the event.

“It's exciting times for all our senior players and we're prepared as well as we could within the period of time that we've had. We've been very happy with our progress, and also with all our players who are partaking in the teams. It hasn't been easy for them as they have obligations in their own lives, but we believe in them.

“They've changed their mindset. They're very focused. They're hungry and they're ready to do better than what we've ever done before,” she added. “Just looking at the years I've been promoting this sport, but also this particular discipline, within the eight years, and looking at these senior teams, these two teams are probably our strongest teams that we've ever taken out in this age.”

All games from New Zealand will be streamed live on the IHF Competitions YouTube channel with more information on the event here.

2026 OCHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball Championships – Schedule

Day 1 - Friday 6 February
(All times local New Zealand time - NZDT)

0930 Opening Ceremony, Traditional Maori Welcome

Men's Competition
1030 COK-AUS
1210 KIR-NZL
1350 COK-KIR
1530 NZL-AUS

Women's Competition
1120 KIR-AUS
1300 COK-NZL
1440 KIR-COK
1620 NZL-AUS

Day 2 - Saturday 7 February

Men's Competition
0930 COK-NZL
1110 KIR-AUS
1330 Semi-Final 1
1510 Semi-Final 2

Women's Competition
1020 KIR-NZL
1200 COK-AUS
1420 Semi-Final 1
1600 Semi-Final 2

Day 3 - Sunday 8 February

Men's Competition
0930 Bronze Medal Match
1145 Gold Medal Match

Women's Competition
1030 Bronze Medal Match
1300 Gold Medal Match

1430 Closing and Awarding Ceremony