Tiare Netball Celebration 2026 in the Cook Islands is a week-long sports holiday where teams play netball by day and enjoy the laid-back island rhythm of Rarotonga by night. Pacific Sport Celebrations confirms the Tiare Netball Celebration 2026 dates are Sunday 22 February to Sunday 1 March 2026, with matches played at Aorangi Sports Club, Raemaru Park in Rarotonga. With a welcome party, multiple match days, and a finale dinner-dance, this event is built for teams that want competitive play and a real Cook Islands getaway in the same trip.
Confirmed dates, venue, and who can play
Event dates (confirmed)
The official 2026 overview lists:
- Sun 22 February to Sun 1 March, 2026.
These dates mirror the late-February window used in the 2025 tournament, which Cook Islands Tourism promoted as an international netball celebration hosted on Rarotonga.
Playing venue (confirmed)
Pacific Sport Celebrations confirms the 2026 playing venue as:
- Aorangi Sports Club, Raemaru Park.
This venue is a key hub for netball on the island, and the 2025 tournament information also described Raemaru Park as a home base for the netball community, with courts and clubroom facilities near the event headquarters.
Eligibility (confirmed)
According to the 2026 overview:
- The event is open to teams with players over the age of 20, and teams can be Women and Mixed.
What makes Tiare Netball Celebration special on an island
Tiare Netball Celebration is designed as a “sport plus holiday” concept rather than a simple tournament. The Cook Islands Tourism blog describes the experience as where sport meets “island magic,” emphasizing the blend of competition, cultural connection, and a tropical setting that encourages teams to travel together and bond.
Pacific Sport Celebrations’ program structure supports that style, with built-in social events at the event HQ and leisure days in the middle of the week to explore lagoon life, local dining, and the slower pace that makes Rarotonga feel instantly welcoming. The result is a tournament week where athletes can play hard, recover well, and still have time for snorkeling, markets, and sunset dinners.
Confirmed fees and packages for 2026
Tiare Netball Celebration 2026 has clear, confirmed event fees that teams can budget for early. Pacific Sport Celebrations lists:
- Team Registration Fee: NZ$500 per team.
- Event Fee: NZ$435 per player or supporter.
The 2026 overview also notes an umpiring-related policy:
- Teams are requested to provide an umpire where possible, and teams unable to do so are asked to accept a $100 surcharge per team to help provide a local umpire.
These confirmed fees are useful because they separate the “team entry” component from the per-person participation experience, which typically includes social events and tournament services.
Event HQ and accommodation: Edgewater Resort & Spa
For 2026, Pacific Sport Celebrations confirms:
- Edgewater Resort & Spa, Rarotonga is the “Event HQ” and the official accommodation provider for Tiare Netball Celebration in Paradise 2026.
The 2026 overview explains that special participant pricing is accessed by a booking code emailed after registration and payment, and that bookings must be made via email to the resort address provided in the listing. It also notes conditions such as a minimum stay to qualify for bonus offers and deposit requirements, which is typical of group-based sports travel weeks.
For island travelers, this matters because staying at the event HQ tends to simplify:
- Team logistics and meetups.
- Transport between accommodation and courts.
- Social events like welcome parties and finale nights.
Playing grades and the style of competition
The 2026 overview outlines a range of age groupings and grades, supporting both competitive teams and more social squads:
- Age groupings: Mixed, Open Age, Over 40s, Over 50s, Over 60s, plus “All Age: Walking”.
- Gradings:
- Mixed: Semi-Competitive & Social
- Open: Competitive & Semi Competitive
- Over 40s / Over 50s / Over 60s: Semi-Competitive & Social
- Walking: included as an all-age option.
This structure matches the broader Tiare concept seen in 2025 materials, where multiple grades allowed teams to choose the intensity that suits their squad and travel goals.
Confirmed 2026 program flow (day-by-day)
Pacific Sport Celebrations provides a detailed 2026 event programme outline, which helps teams plan flights and leave days:
- Day 1: Sun 22 Feb 2026
- Arrive, check in, collect team gifts and information at Edgewater HQ.
- Welcome party (2.5 hours) with food, beverages, and entertainment.
- Day 2: Mon 23 Feb 2026
- First round of games at Aorangi Sports Club netball courts, with teams typically playing two games per day; club facilities, bar, and food trucks available.
- Day 3: Tues 24 Feb 2026
- Optional celebrity cruise and tour planned for netballers and supporters.
- Day 4: Wed 25 Feb 2026
- Second round of games at Aorangi Sports Club courts.
- Day 5: Thurs 26 Feb 2026
- Leisure day with no official fixtures, ideal for tours or beach recovery.
- Day 6: Fri 27 Feb 2026
- Third round of games at Aorangi Sports Club courts.
- Day 7: Sat 28 Feb 2026
- Optional finals day for teams who want extra games, finishing early afternoon.
- Finale dinner-dance at Edgewater (2.5 hours) with food, beverages, and entertainment.
- Day 8: Sun 1 Mar 2026
- Celebration week formally ends; teams depart or extend their holiday.
Island travel tips for teams and supporters
Getting around Rarotonga
Rarotonga is small enough that teams can move easily between accommodation and the courts by:
- Shuttle or taxi arranged through accommodation.
- Scooter or car rental for flexible travel, especially useful on leisure days.
Because match days run in blocks, it’s easy to plan:
- A quiet beach morning, then games.
- Or games first, then a lagoon swim and sunset dinner.
What to do between match days
Tiare Netball Celebration is a rare tournament where “rest days” are part of the official rhythm. Use them well:
- Visit Muri Lagoon for snorkeling or paddleboarding.
- Spend a Saturday morning at Punanga Nui Market in Avarua for local produce, crafts, and breakfast.
- Book an island night cultural show for a classic Cook Islands evening.
Packing for an island netball week
- Two pairs of court shoes if possible, plus tape and recovery tools.
- Light rain layer for tropical showers.
- Reef shoes and swimwear for lagoon time.
Why Tiare Netball Celebration 2026 belongs on your sports travel list
Tiare Netball Celebration 2026 is built for teams that want more than a tournament medal. You get an organized week of netball with multiple grades, a welcoming social calendar, and an island environment where recovery feels like a reward rather than a chore. With confirmed dates from Feb 22 to Mar 1, 2026, and a confirmed venue at Aorangi Sports Club, Raemaru Park, this is an event you can plan and budget early, especially if you want to secure preferred accommodation at the event HQ.
If your team is ready for a sports trip that feels genuinely memorable, lock in your roster, register, and start turning February 2026 into a Rarotonga netball holiday. Bring your supporters, add a lagoon cruise on the leisure day, and finish your week with the finale dinner-dance before heading home with new friends, sun-kissed photos, and a whole new definition of “team culture.”
Verified Information at glance
Event Category: International netball tournament / Sports travel event / Team participation festival
Event Name: Tiare Netball Celebration 2026 (Tiare Netball Celebration in Paradise 2026)
Confirmed Location: Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Confirmed Dates: Sunday 22 February to Sunday 1 March 2026
Confirmed Playing Venue: Aorangi Sports Club, Raemaru Park
Confirmed eligibility:
- Teams open to players over age 20; Women and Mixed teams listed
Confirmed pricing (NZD):
- Team registration fee: NZ$500 per team
- Event fee: NZ$435 per player or supporter
- Umpire surcharge (if no umpire provided): $100 per team
Confirmed Event HQ / official accommodation:
- Edgewater Resort & Spa, Rarotonga is confirmed as Event HQ and official accommodation provider, with booking code access after registration and payment
Confirmed 2026 program structure:
- Welcome party on Sun 22 Feb 2026
- Match days on Mon 23, Wed 25, Fri 27 Feb 2026, with an optional finals day Sat 28 Feb 2026
- Leisure day Thu 26 Feb 2026 and optional cruise/tour Tue 24 Feb 2026
