“Time” and “consistency” were the big takeaways from this year’s Delegates Forum — and they’re the driving forces behind the new 2025–2026 playing calendar, developed by the Playing Programme Committee (PPC), a group made up of bowlers and club representatives.
With only 52 weeks to balance club play, Centre events, representative fixtures, and national competitions, building a fair and flexible calendar isn’t easy. But after careful review of the past season and taking on board club and player survey feedback, Bowls Auckland is proud to present a calendar that:
- Gives more time back to clubs, and
- Delivers greater year-to-year consistency
What’s New (and what’s staying the same)
More time for clubs: This year’s calendar includes three extra weekends for clubs to run their own events and foster local play — a clear positive.
July–September: pre-season prep: No major changes here.
October: Twilight gets a tweak: The former 1–5 Bowls3Five is now labelled Twilight, with a revised format under development. A second Twilight placeholder appears in February, offering space for innovation after the national pathway was removed by Bowls New Zealand starting in 2026.
November: A simpler ‘silly season’:
- Saturday Interclub is now condensed into just two weekends, with all games played in a fast-paced format that retains competitive quality.
- Centre Finals (pre-Christmas) moved to a single-day event, aligned with Battle of the Bridge, freeing up another weekend for club events.
- Centre events originally held in December shift to November, letting clubs focus on year-end bookings and functions.
Jarden Open: A small shift for a big impact: Now running 28–30 December, this one-day-later shift helps host clubs better manage volunteer resources after Boxing Day, without clashing with other events.
2026 Highlights: January to June
- January: No Centre events due to National Championships and enabling clubs to run events as applicable.
- February–March:
- National Interclub & Auckland Cup has been enhanced to now span three days, including a reserve day.
- A new qualifying format reduces byes and “dead rubber” games.
- April: Easter’s early arrival triggers a realignment of National Interclub and Auckland 1–5 Interclub for better flow.
- May–June: The COC Series starts a week earlier, fitting in three events plus 1–5 Triples.
The season concludes with the Annual Awards, now the official wrap-up and kick-off to the next year — reinforcing a full 12-month cycle.
Looking ahead
The 2025–2026 calendar is a strong step forward. With more time for clubs, a cleaner structure for Centre events, and better scheduling overall, it’s a season built to reflect what our bowls community asked for. By staying focussed on time and consistency, we’re delivering a calendar that honours tradition, supports growth, and keeps the game moving forward.
We’re excited for what’s ahead — and we hope you are too.
👉 View 2025-2026 Calendar of Events