Domestic netball is in for yet more changes for the ANZ Premiership 2026 season.
After rule innovations — including the two-point shot, timeouts and umpires wearing microphones — were introduced this season, all games will be be played across Saturday and Sunday next year.
The Monday night fixture has been scrapped under the new broadcast deal in which all games will be televised on TVNZ instead of Sky Sport.
Netball New Zealand released the 2026 draw yesterday, confirming the upcoming season will follow the same format as 2025 with 30 round robin games across 10 weeks before a two-game playoff series in June.
The Southern Steel will play five games at home — including one in Dunedin — and five away games in the regular season.
Dunedin hosts the Steel’s round seven clash against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic at the Edgar Centre.
It will be the first time the Magic have played an ANZ Premiership game in Dunedin since June 6, 2021 when the Steel pipped the Magic 59-58.
Invercargill will host the other four home games against the Northern Stars (April 18), Central Pulse (May 2), Northern Mystics (May 31) and the Mainland Tactix (June 14).
The Pulse will host the Magic in the opening game of the season on April 11.
Later that night the Steel will open their campaign with an away game against South Island rivals, the Tactix, who will be looking to start their title defence on the right foot.
"We saw the level of netball lift last season, with teams knowing that every pass and every point mattered. The added bonus for 2026 is that every New Zealander will be able to experience that intensity live and free-to-air on TVNZ," NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said.
"The rule innovations introduced this year brought a new energy to the game, and with strong viewing numbers and fantastic crowds, fans made it clear they loved what they saw.
"We can’t wait to see which players seize their moment in 2026."
The Steel just missed out on the playoffs this season, finishing the regular season in fourth spot with five wins and five losses.
Silver Fern midcourter Kate Heffernan (Adelaide Thunderbirds) is the big loss for next season, but the Steel have retained a strong core with Silver Ferns Georgia Heffernan, Kimiora Poi and Carys Stythe returning.
New Zealand under-21 midcourter Serina Daunakamakama, former Silver Fern Aliyah Dunn and hardworking wing defence Renee Savai’inaea are also back.
They could be in with a good shot of pushing for the playoffs with most other teams having a large turnover of players.
