The best Indigenous netball talent in Australia will come together in Naarm / Melbourne next week for the 2026 First Nations Tournament.

Super Netball Futures and elite national competition reserves, international tournament-experiences and up-and-coming pathway players feature throughout the squads heading out on court at Victoria's State Netball Centre for the carnival.

Under-23s from every state and territory feature.

The standards set in previous tournaments have gotten noticed, ANZ championship winner with Queensland Firebirds Beryl Friday said, and what can come out of strong performances has already been proven.

Last year's player of the tournament Brianna Martyn picked up a training partner squad with the Sydney Swifts off the back of impressing for Queensland, before a cruel injury blow interrupted her 2026.

Though, there's more to the First Nations tournament than the netball being played.

"It's one of the few times where all the blackfellas across Australia get to see each other at netball," Friday said.

"It's a good opportunity for the young ones who are coming through to I guess really put their stamp on the tournament."

She has seen the development of initiatives in the game as Netball Australia's First Nations engagement lead.

"It's good opportunity for the young ones to who are coming through to I guess really put their stamp on the tournament," Friday said.

The age restriction means some of the inaugural national Indigenous representative team, the Black Swans, from 2024 have opened up their spot in state and territory squads.

Others, like WA defender Scarlet Jauncey, who claimed Netball World Youth Cup with Australia last year, are now emerging as leaders themselves.

It's kind of been the idea from the beginning, Friday said, "that's a part of giving back to community and practicing our cultural ways".

"(It's) being that role model, practicing leadership, and passing their learnings on from other pathway spaces that they're in into the young ones up and coming," she added.

Being there is about netball, but also about driving and helping the next group of players come through, Friday said.

NSW are defending champions after claiming last year's trophy in an extra-time nail-biter over 2024 winners Queensland, coached by former Australia Diamond Sharon Finnan-White.

Tasmania made massive gains to claim bronze in Frankston on Boon-Wurring/Bunurong Country in 2025, while WA, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and NT are all expected to show the developments they've made at this year's tournament.

"Each year, the Tournament really highlights the depth of talent within our communities, from athletes to coaches and umpires. It's inspiring to see the teams take the court with such pride in their cultural identity, while their mob shows up in full support from the sidelines - it's something truly special to be part of," she said.

"Netball Australia First Nations general manager Ali Tucker-Munro said of the tournament earlier this year."

This week, Netball Australia announced NITV had come on board as broadcast partners with the tournament available to watch across YouTube, on demand and television.

"The First Nations Tournament is more than a competition. It is a celebration of our culture, community and the extraordinary netball talent that we know exists across our Nations," Tucker-Munro said.

"With every match available free to audiences nationwide, we're creating a platform where our deadly First Nations women and girls can shine, and where our stories, achievements and leadership can be seen, supported and celebrated."

The attention the First Nations Netball Tournament will receive has been enough to bring tears for some, Friday told National Indigenous Times.

It's powerful to see a women's sport national tournament get this platform - one which is "just for the girls...not the girls as an afterthought or an add-on".

The tournament runs Wednesday September 16 to Sunday September 20 at the State Netball Centre in Parkville.