Barossa to host 2026 THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships

10 December 2025

SANFL is excited to announce the 2026 THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships are heading back to the Barossa region next July.

The three-day showcase of country football, to be hosted by The Barossa Council off the back of its successful 2023 championships, will be staged at the award-winning Barossa Park.

A centrepiece of 2025 AFL Gather Round, the Barossa Park development at Lyndoch was announced last month as winner of SANFL’s Community Football Facility of the Year Award (over $3.5 million).

SANFL has also announced that the City of Victor Harbor has been locked in to host the event in 2027, with games to played across Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay ovals, in what will be a celebration of all things South Australian football, as the SANFL marks its milestone 150^th year. The championships were last hosted by the City of Victor Harbor in 2024.

The Barossa region is expected to host over 500 players, umpires and volunteers, as well as thousands of spectators across the weekend of July 10-12, following its successful bid to host the 2026 championships.

To be played across Barossa Park’s two ovals, the championships will again kick off under lights on Friday night.

Hostplus SANFL League football also returns to the region with Central District taking on South Adelaide in their Round 14 clash at Barossa Park on day two of the championships, Saturday July 11, at 4pm.

On the back of the THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships, Barossa Park will also for the first time host the 2026 State Country game on Saturday, July 25.

The State Country game is an annual tradition in community football, played between rivals SA Country and WA Country, with the State country team selected after the championships.

SANFL Head of Community Football Shawn Ford said the THINK! Road Safety Country Football Championships are not only a brilliant display of the best country footballers from across the state, but also a major economic boost for their regional hosts.

“The Country Championships have become a significant event for community football in regional South Australia over the years, and we’re thrilled to see the Barossa Council host the 2026 edition,” Mr Ford said.

“The championships will also be another great opportunity for the Barossa Council to showcase its state-of-the-art Barossa Park precinct at Lyndoch, while giving players from across the State a great experience of playing at an AFL Gather Round facility.”

Mr Ford also acknowledged the continuing support for the event and community football in South Australia of naming rights partner, THINK! Road Safety.

“SANFL has been a strong and committed road safety advocate for many years and the THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championships are a vital platform to create awareness and drive home the vital message and education about road safety to our football community,” he said.

“Without our valuable partnership with THINK! Road Safety and other SANFL partners, events such as these simply would not be possible.”

Barossa Council Mayor Bim Lange said securing the country championships is another coup for the region and supports Council’s strategy and vision to attract marquee events at Barossa Park.

“Barossa Park is purpose built to host sporting events of this calibre and securing this bid, complements the investment that’s been made in this regional facility,” he said.

“You couldn’t ask for a better venue to watch some of SA’s most talented country male and female footballers.

“We’re excited to host the SANFL Country Championships again and look forward to welcoming everyone to the Barossa. The event itself brings an enormous economic boost to the region

“In addition, securing the Central versus South SANFL game and the State game just adds to a huge month of elite footy action in the Barossa.”

City of Victor Harbor Mayor, Dr Moira Jenkins, said the Fleurieu comes alive with footy fever when the championships come to town.

“Hosting the Country Football Championships in 2027, as SANFL celebrates its 150th anniversary and on the back of successfully hosting the event in 2021 and 2024, is a great honour for Victor Harbor,” said Mayor Jenkins.

“The Championships provide an excellent economic boost plus a great opportunity to showcase the great sporting facilities and tourism offerings in Victor Harbor.

“I commend Council and our local clubs who have worked hard to secure this event for our region. We look forward to welcoming players and supporters in 2027.”