Read the “How to register” information below to get started.
Dates: 24h – 27th September 2026
Location: La Trobe Sports Stadium (LTSS), Melbourne, Australia
Attendance: Estimating 800+ competitors from 10 countries from all over Asia Pacific and the world – this is one of the world’s largest dodgeball events!
Format: In 2026, both foam and cloth formats will be included.
• Registration is by team. Please read the Eligibility section to see if your team can register.
• For 2026, we will review each registration before confirming your place in the tournament. This is to ensure a good mix of domestic and international teams in the tournament. You will get updates by email as your registration progresses.
• You don’t need a complete player list at the time of registering. This can be provided later if you are still building your team. However, all teams are strongly encouraged to have at least 6 players registered by 31 July.
• For teams visiting from outside Australia, we may ask you to confirm your visa application has been submitted before we can confirm your registration. See Entry visa to Australia below.
To get started, click the Register button above.
Early bird NZD$900/team until 31 May 2026. To keep your early bird discount, payment must be received 31 May 2026.
Full price registration is from 1 June, and is NZD$1000 per team. Payment is due by 31 July.
Late registration from 1 August and is NZD $1200 per team. All teams must have paid by 1 September 2026.
Payment will be in NZD and handled by Viking Sports, based in Christchurch New Zealand.
We set these dates because we have a tournament to plan and pay for, but we also will try to support you as best we can. Please contact us if you have questions about registration fees and we’ll do our best to help.
Pooled Round-Robin
API 2026 will feature both foam and cloth formats, and follow WDBF Rules.
Cloth and foam will have women, men & mixed (3:3) categories.
• API is open to experienced dodgeball teams. Unfortunately API is not a good place to start for beginners.
• There is no qualification process required for API.
• The tournament uses the World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF) format of dodgeball. Teams should be familiar with the WDBF rules.
• Registration is by team. Once your team has registered you will be able to add players via our online system.
• Each team requires a Team Manager. This is the person that we will communicate with about registration and is responsible for ensuring the team is ready for the tournament. The Team Manager does not have to be a player on the team but does need to attend the tournament to manage the team. Team Managers must be adults (18 years or older).
• Teams do not have to be associated with a club. You are welcome to form a team just for API.
• Teams can be from anywhere in the world but will need to make their own arrangements to get to the venue in Melbourne to participate, including travel, accommodation and visas. Unfortunately we cannot provide financial assistance for teams or players to attend.
• This tournament is for adults. While players under 18 can attend, Team Managers will need to be responsible for these players and be aware the tournament does not specifically cater for children.
It is important that all players visiting from outside Australia obtain a visa to enter Australia if it is required. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa and that you lodge an application early. The tournament has successfully been hosted in Australia several times and we hope that everyone who wants to come is able to make suitable arrangements.
• More information is available from the Department of Home Affairs of the Australia Government. See: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder
• Processing times to obtain a visa can vary. The Department of Home Affairs recommends visa applications be lodged at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to coming to Australia. See: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/overview.
• We may ask some teams to provide evidence their players have applied for visas before we confirm the team’s registration in the tournament.
• We can support you with a letter confirming your team’s eligibility to participate in the competition. Please contact us if you would like this letter.
• We cannot apply for a visa on your behalf and we cannot speed up your application. It is your responsibility to apply for a visa.
Teams will be scheduled to referee.
We will be sharing more information with Team Managers about referee duties closer to the tournament.
Dodgeball is very dependant on teams providing referees so we thank everyone for helping make the tournament a success by ensuring you are ready when your team is scheduled to referee.
Draft schedule:
– Thursday 24th Sep: Group stages
– Friday 25th Sep: Group stages
– Saturday 26h Sep: Elimination stages
– Sunday 27th Sep: Medal matches
Both foam and cloth will be played each day. We anticipate the format will be very similar to API 2025 in Christchurch.
(Schedule will adjust once we finalize the number of teams.)
The tournament will be held at La Trobe Sports Stadium (LTSS), Melbourne, Australia.
This is one of Melbourne’s premier indoor sporting venues. Two full stadium halls, 12 Dodgeball courts, four days of world class dodgeball.
We are working with potential accommodation partners on some accommodation options for teams. We will share updates via our mailing list and socials when we know more.
Download the API 2026 logo here.
We’re preparing some information about Melbourne to make your visit to our city even better. Check back soon!
Mixed and gendered categories will have separate time blocks so crossover players won’t be affected.
However, there’s a few things to keep in mind:
• Men’s and women’s division games may be played at the same time. Keeping every division separate may require more time than we have so we may need some overlap to make the schedule fit.
• Please, please, please look after yourself and your teammates, particularly if you decide to play in multiple divisions. Aim to leave Melbourne with plenty of memories and no injuries.
• Please help us with referees. This is going to be essential to be able to run extra courts and fit everything in. Teams will get a roster before the tournament so they know when they are needed.
Yes, your team can play in both foam and cloth. We will schedule foam and cloth at different times. This is in addition to keeping gendered and mixed divisions at separate times.
However, there’s a few things to keep in mind:
• Men’s and women’s division games may be played at the same time. Keeping every division separate may require more time than we have so we may need some overlap to make the schedule fit.
• Please, please, please look after yourself and your teammates, particularly if you decide to play in multiple divisions. Aim to leave Melbourne with plenty of memories and no injuries.
• Please help us with referees. This is going to be essential to be able to run extra courts and fit everything in. Teams will get a roster before the tournament so they know when they are needed.
You can pay for your team’s registration once your application is approved. We ask teams to pay as soon as they can.
Payment for early bird registration is due by 31 May.
Payment for full price registration is due by 31 July.
Payment for late registration is due by 1 Sept.
If we need extra time to review your registration, we will give you an extension for payment. For example, if you register in time for the early bird price but we don’t approve your registration until after 31 May, we will give you a bit longer to make payment and keep the early bird price.
Remember that your team’s registration is not confirmed until we have received payment and you have at least 6 players on your roster, so we encourage you to pay your registration and add players as soon as possible. If you need help, please contact us and we will do our best to help you.
Yep! You can update your team name and roster via our online system.
Team rosters can include up to 10 players.
API is open to any experienced dodgeballers who want to put together a team. If this is you, you are welcome to register a team – just start the application process.
See the “Eligibility” section for more information on who can register.
We are only taking registrations from teams.
However, keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates as there are often teams looking for players.
This event is for people who have played dodgeball before and want to compete against players from around the world. It isn’t the right place to start for beginners but if you would like to try dodgeball, Generation Dodgeball runs leagues in Melbourne, Australia or check out the World Dodgeball Federation website to find out more about dodgeball around the world.
For individuals, you can also put your hand up to referee or volunteer here: https://apidodgeball.org/volunteers/.
Volunteers are key to making the tournament work. Organisers, referees, data entry, setting up courts, … all of this comes from the hard work of volunteers. Thank you for helping!
Download the API 2026 logo here.