Registration for this event closes at Wed 23 Sep 2026 21:00.
Rainbow Cup Weekend 2026
Friday 25 – Saturday 26 September 2026 Tournament: Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre
Rainbow Cup is Australia's annual queer water polo competition, hosted each year by one of the country's LGBTQIA+ water polo clubs. In 2026, Sydney Stingers is hosting and we're making a proper weekend of it.
Players from Sydney Stingers, Melbourne Tritons, Brisbane Surge and Perth Whitepointers register individually, then mix across clubs to form balanced teams for Saturday's tournament.
The Weekend at a glance
Friday 25 September – Swim Squad
Afternoon training session. Venue and time TBC.
Friday 25 September – Welcome Event
Evening welcome drinks. Venue and time TBC.
Saturday 26 September – Rainbow Cup 2026
Arrive 8:00am, play starts 8:30am. Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre.
Saturday 26 September, evening – Post-Tournament Event
Evening event following the tournament. Venue and time TBC.
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Fair play, balanced teams
Rainbow Cup is a fun tournament with friends, where good water polo is played and everyone goes home having enjoyed themselves.
More experienced players are expected to exercise discretion when playing against newer members, supporting development rather than overpowering it.
Read the Rainbow Cup competition rules and format here.
The Details
Friday Afternoon – Swim Squad
An afternoon training session ahead of the weekend, open to all registered Rainbow Cup participants.
When: Friday 25 September 2026
Time: afternoon — time TBC
Where: TBC
Friday Evening – Welcome Event
Welcome drinks for visiting clubs, Stingers members, and supporters. A relaxed start to the weekend before the tournament.
When: Friday 25 September 2026
Time: evening — time TBC
Where: TBC
Saturday – Rainbow Cup 2026
A full day of competitive, inclusive water polo. A light lunch will be provided at the pool.
When: Saturday 26 September 2026
Time: Arrive: 8:00am Start: 8:30am
Where: Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre
Saturday Evening – Post-Tournament Event
Close out the weekend with players, volunteers, and supporters from all four clubs.
When: Saturday 26 September 2026
Time: evening — time TBC
Where: TBC
In the Pool, Poolside, On Deck
Rainbow Cup 2026 is the centrepiece of In the Pool, Poolside, On Deck, a leadership development program funded by City of Ryde and delivered through the tournament.
Across the weekend, there are opportunities to develop leadership through captaincy and mentoring, refereeing and scoring, and hands-on event delivery. You can indicate your interest when registering or contact the Stingers Secretary.
Tickets
Rainbow Cup Player Registration – $40
Includes Saturday's Rainbow Cup tournament and Post-Tournament Party. Each player must complete an individual registration.
When registering, you can also select the following $0 tickets to let us know which Friday events you're attending:
- Friday Swim Squad – $0
- Friday Welcome Event – $0
Post-Tournament Party only – $35
For supporters, guests, and anyone not registered to play in Rainbow Cup. The post-tournment party is included in the $40 player registration.
Some on-the-day costs, including pool entry where applicable, are not included in registration.
Questions? Contact the Vice-President, Secretary, or events team (see Contact).
Rainbow Cup 2026 is proudly funded by City of Ryde.
