One of the most heartwarming stories to emerge from the skateboarding competition at the North Queensland Games was seeing parents and children competing alongside one another at the Sugarbowl. For Jay McCaskill and his family, the event was about much more than medals and results; it was about sharing an experience together and creating memories […]

The North Queensland Sports Foundation is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with the 1956 Torchbearers Club, the association of runners who carried the Olympic flame during the historic 1956 Olympic Torch Relay more than 70 years ago. The 1956 Olympic Torch Relay was the first Olympic flame relay ever held in Australia, carrying the […]

The 2026 North Queensland Games officially got underway on Friday 1 May 2026, with a huge Opening Ceremony at Great Barrier Reef Arena that brought together athletes, families and the wider community for a spectacular night of celebration. Despite some challenging weather conditions, around 1,500 people attended the event, creating an electric atmosphere to officially […]

North Queensland Sports Foundation is set to host the NQ Games Opening Ceremony.  This ceremony will be staged on Friday 1st May from 6pm until 9pm at Harrup Park – one of Mackay’s top leisure and sporting facilities.   An exciting program of evening activities has been scheduled to cater to all ages – but specifically targeting families. A site layout has been created to cater for […]

The 2026 North Queensland Games will officially kick off with a spectacular Opening Ceremony, bringing the community together for a vibrant celebration of sport, culture and regional pride. Held on Friday 1 May at Harrup Park, Mackay, the free, family-friendly event will transform the venue into a hub of activity, welcoming thousands of locals, athletes […]

The North Queensland Games have announced a new partnership with PEAK^ (peak.app), the performance and wellbeing platform founded by North Queensland Olympian and Heptathlete Tori West, ahead of the 2026 North Queensland Games to be held in Mackay from 1-4 May. The partnership will see PEAK work alongside Games organisers to champion athlete preparation, recovery […]

Get ready to gear up and show your Games spirit! We have everything you need including basketball singlets, shirts, shorts, polos, bucket hats, socks and drink bottles. Simply select the “SHOP” button on the top right of the website to be redirected to the Struddy’s merchandise store. Get in quick so you don’t miss out!!

Mackay is set to host regional Australia’s largest and most iconic multi-sport event, with the 2026 Mackay North Queensland Games to be held from May 1 to May 4, 2026. Running since 1984, The North Queensland Games will bring together thousands of athletes, officials and supporters from across the region, celebrating grassroots sport, community pride […]

After receiving over 80 entries and nearly 400 votes across 3 weeks, the drawing of Pedro the Playtpus, from the mind of 11-year old Georgia from Marian has won the popular vote in the North Queensland Sports Foundation’s contest to design the next mascot for the 2026 North Queensland Games. Run and promoted in conjunction […]

The 2026 Mackay NQ Games is just 1 year away! The North Queensland Sports Foundation has been hard at work overhauling it’s web and digital content, upgrading registration platforms, creating new branding, working with merchandise suppliers, and planning for the 21st NQ Games (May 1st – May 4th 2026) to be the biggest in 20 […]

Whilst hard at work on the 2026 iteration of the NQ Games, we stumbled across these photographs sent in from the community of the original NQ Games; the motorcade, the Games Torch (held by Ron Grant OAM), the parade in front of 15,000 and more. If you want to learn more about the 1984 edition […]

Last night the 2024 NQ Games was officially opened at Cairns’ Fogarty Park – the rain just barely impacting and estimated 1,500 in the athletes march and another couple thousand attendees over a couple of hours. The traditional athlete’s march was led by a precession of Cairns Regional Council staff and representatives including Mayor Amy […]

Michael Healy, The Queensland State Government’s Minister for Tourism and Sport was in Cairns at the NQ Games Registration Hub today ahead of the Opening on Friday. Speaking with media, Minister Healy was delighted to show his support for a major event in his own electorate of Cairns. “The North Queensland Games represents a wonderful […]

Michael Healy, The Queensland State Government’s Minister for Tourism and Sport was in Cairns at the NQ Games Registration Hub today ahead of the Opening on Friday. Speaking with media, Minister Healy was delighted to show his support for a major event in his own electorate of Cairns. Minister Healy took time to take photos […]

Time is running out to secure your spot in the 2024 NQ Games! With more than 3,000 participants expected across 24 sports, the 2024 NQ Games promises to be the largest multi-sport event in regional Australia… and there is still time for athletes and enthusiasts to register and be part of this iconic event. Whether […]