The Bingham Cup is the world championship of gay rugby — a biennial tournament that brings together gay, lesbian, bisexual, and inclusive rugby clubs from across the globe to compete in a spirit of athletic excellence and community. The 2026 edition is hosted in Brisbane, Australia, running from 17–24 August.
The tournament was founded in 2002 and named in honour of Mark Kendall Bingham — a gay rugby player, San Francisco native, and passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 on 11 September 2001. Mark was one of the passengers who fought back against the hijackers; the plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and all on board were killed. The tournament that bears his name has grown from a small gathering of gay rugby clubs into a global event with dozens of participating teams and thousands of players and supporters.
Previous Bingham Cup host cities read as a tour of the world's great LGBTQI+-friendly destinations: New York, London, Sydney, San Francisco, Nashville, Amsterdam, Washington DC, and Rome in 2024. Brisbane in 2026 brings the tournament back to Australia for the first time since the Sydney edition, and to Queensland for the first time ever.
The Bingham Cup is as much a community gathering as a sporting event. The off-field social programme — opening ceremony, team dinners, supporter parties, and the closing celebration — is where much of the magic happens. Teams travel in large groups, supporters follow their clubs across time zones, and the week builds a sense of belonging and shared purpose that is genuinely moving, even if you've never watched a rugby match in your life.
The Bingham Cup tournament runs over approximately one week, with pool matches played across the first several days and the championship finals on the final weekend. Teams are drawn from clubs affiliated with the International Gay Rugby (IGR) association, and competition is typically split into multiple divisions — championship, plate, and bowl brackets — ensuring every team plays meaningful rugby throughout the tournament regardless of early results.
The standard of rugby has risen significantly over successive editions. Gay rugby clubs now have decades of competitive history, and many clubs that compete at the Bingham Cup also participate in mainstream community and provincial competitions. The championship bracket is genuinely competitive; the final is always hard-fought.
Spectating is free and open to everyone. The atmosphere at match venues is warm and enthusiastic — crowds cheer for both teams, there's a strong culture of mutual respect between competing clubs, and the touch lines are a great place to meet other supporters from around the world. If you're not a rugby follower, the Bingham Cup is still worth attending as an experience of international queer community gathering at its most organised and joyful.
The official social programme is as important as the rugby to most attendees. The opening ceremony sets the tone for the week — typically a formal evening event with speeches, team introductions, and acknowledgement of Mark Bingham's legacy. It's often emotionally resonant and serves as a reminder of what the tournament stands for beyond sport.
Team dinners and socials happen throughout the week, typically self-organised by individual clubs with their supporters. The culture of hospitality between clubs is strong — it's common for clubs to host one another for drinks or to invite rival team supporters to their functions. The tournament produces genuine cross-cultural friendships that persist long after the final whistle.
The closing ceremony and party is the climax of the week — championship and plate finals are followed by the medal presentation and then a celebration that brings the entire tournament community together. Buy tickets for the closing event early if they're sold separately; it's the night everyone remembers.
Brisbane is an inspired choice for a summer Bingham Cup. The city has grown enormously in confidence and infrastructure in recent years, buoyed by the 2032 Olympic Games preparation and a sustained period of investment in venues, transport, and the CBD. It's a genuinely enjoyable city to spend a week in — compact enough to navigate easily, warm enough in August to be outdoors, and with enough quality food, drink, and cultural activity to fill the days between matches.
August in Brisbane is winter by the Australian calendar, but Queensland winter is not what most international visitors expect. Average daytime temperatures are 20–22°C, sunny, and dry — excellent conditions for outdoor rugby and for exploring the city. Pack a light jacket for evenings; nights drop to around 10–12°C. The weather is reliably fine throughout August, which is one of the driest months of the year.
Brisbane's LGBTQI+ scene is centred on Fortitude Valley, about 2km north of the CBD. Caxton Street, just outside the CBD to the west, has a long history as Brisbane's sporting social hub and will likely feature in the Bingham Cup social programme given its proximity to rugby venues. The broader city is generally LGBTQI+-welcoming; same-sex relationships have full legal recognition in Australia, and Queensland has comprehensive anti-discrimination protections.
Brisbane Airport (BNE) is a major international gateway with direct services from Asia, the Pacific, and New Zealand, and long-haul connections from Europe and North America via hubs in Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, or Sydney. From the airport, the Airtrain connects directly to the CBD in around 20 minutes.
International visitors need an Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or appropriate visa — apply before departure via the Australian Immigration website or the AustralianETA app. Processing is usually instant but allow a day or two.
Many international visitors combine the Bingham Cup with wider Australian travel. Brisbane is a natural gateway to the Gold Coast (1 hour south), the Sunshine Coast (1.5 hours north), and — for those with more time — the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays further north. It's also a short flight from Sydney and Melbourne for those who want to bookend the trip with time in Australia's largest cities.
The Brisbane CBD and South Bank are the most convenient bases for the tournament — close to rugby venues, the Fortitude Valley social scene, and the river. The CBD has a good range of accommodation from budget hostels to business and boutique hotels. South Bank, just across the river via the Goodwill Bridge, offers a slightly more relaxed precinct with the cultural district, beaches, and parklands nearby.
Fortitude Valley is worth considering if proximity to LGBTQI+ nightlife is a priority — you can walk home from the bars without navigating taxis at 2am. Book 3–4 months in advance; major international sporting events in Brisbane fill accommodation quickly, and the Bingham Cup will draw significant numbers from overseas.
Travelling as a team or large group? Brisbane has serviced apartments and short-term rental options that work well for groups. The tournament organising committee typically negotiates preferred hotel rates with selected properties — check the official Bingham Cup website for partner hotel deals once they're announced.
Club registration for the Bingham Cup is handled through the International Gay Rugby (IGR) association. Clubs must be IGR-affiliated to enter; the registration process typically opens 12–18 months before the tournament. Individual players interested in competing but not currently part of a gay rugby club should search for affiliated clubs in their city or region — there are clubs across North America, Europe, Australia, and beyond.
The Bingham Cup is explicitly inclusive: the tournament welcomes players of all genders, sexual orientations, and skill levels. Many clubs have mixed-gender teams and actively recruit new players who are new to rugby. If the thought of playing in a world championship feels intimidating, be reassured that the tournament is designed to be accessible — the bowl and plate competitions exist precisely to give developing clubs and newer players meaningful competitive experiences.
Flights: Brisbane is a long way from everywhere outside Australasia. Book 4–6 months out for long-haul routes from Europe and North America. Fares will rise as the tournament date approaches and demand from the rugby community builds.
Accommodation: 3–4 months out for CBD and South Bank. Check the official Bingham Cup website for partner hotel rates once announced.
Tournament tickets and social events: watch the official Bingham Cup website and IGR social channels for announcements. The opening and closing ceremony tickets typically sell out.
The Bingham Cup 2026 comes to Brisbane, hosted by the Brisbane Hustlers Rugby Union Football Club — the first time the Asia-Pacific region has hosted the tournament since Sydney 2014. The 2026 edition also introduces the Amanda Mark Cup, a new women's championship running alongside the main tournament, marking a significant expansion of inclusive rugby at the world championship level.
The full event runs 17–24 August 2026, with tournament matches scheduled 19–23 August (8am–5pm daily). An opening ceremony takes place Wednesday evening and a closing ceremony on Sunday evening. Social programming — including team meetups and events throughout Fortitude Valley, Brisbane's LGBTQI+ entertainment precinct — runs across the full week.
Teams from across the world compete in both the Bingham Cup (men's) and Amanda Mark Cup (women's) divisions. Late registration is open until 12 April 2026. Contact the organising committee at info.2026@binghamcup.com or follow @igrbinghamamandacup on Instagram for team and scheduling updates.
Brisbane offers excellent access to accommodation across the CBD and South Bank, with easy transport links to the Gold Coast for those extending their stay. August is dry season in Brisbane — warm days (18–23°C) with minimal rain, ideal for outdoor rugby and post-match celebrations.
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