Australia to host 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships

Sunshine Coast, Australia, was today announced as host of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships, set for October 5-10. 

The continental championship, hosted by the Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Union and Lacrosse Australia, will feature men’s and women’s competition, and will serve as the qualifier for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships.  

The 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championships will also be the crucial first step in the qualification process for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, pending approval by the International Olympic Committee.  

World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr said: “The announcement of this sixes continental championship and qualifier marks an exciting new chapter for our sport, as lacrosse takes its first steps on the pathway to the LA28 Olympic Games. Staging this event on Australia’s Sunshine Coast – host of the Brisbane 2032 Games – underscores both the momentum behind lacrosse’s return to the Olympic stage and our commitment to building a sustainable presence within the Olympic Movement. This championship is more than a qualifier; it is a showcase of speed, skill and global growth, and a vital step in ensuring that lacrosse continues to inspire athletes and fans well beyond Los Angeles.” 

Lacrosse Australia Chair Abbie Burgess Brice said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to bring the Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Sixes World Qualifier to Queensland in 2026. Hosting an Olympic qualifier here is a landmark moment for Australian lacrosse and an incredible chance to showcase our game on home soil. We see this qualifier as a catalyst, one that inspires the next generation, connects communities, and leaves a lasting legacy. It will build momentum towards lacrosse’s return to the Olympics in Los Angeles 2028, and ultimately strengthen our impact and ambition to compete at a home Games in Brisbane 2032.” 

The event will be held at Sunshine Coast Stadium at the Kawana Sports Precinct, which recently hosted the 2025 Asia-Pacific Women’s Lacrosse Championship in January. 

The 2027 Sixes Championships will feature the top 16 men’s and women’s teams in the world and will serve as the primary qualifier for LA28. Continental allocations are anticipated to be finalized by the end of the year, which will determine the number of spots available to teams at the APSLC.  

World Lacrosse will announce full details on the Olympic qualification process, including hosts and dates of other continental championships and continental allocations for the Olympic Games, in the coming months.  

In international sixes lacrosse ahead of the first-ever World Lacrosse Sixes Championship in 2027, APLU teams have competed in men’s and women’s sixes at The World Games in 2022 and 2025. In the event this summer, Australia won its second consecutive bronze medal.