After a successful 2025 season, the officials at Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) are looking back with pride at what their teams achieved. Every team, whether in Mobile Legends, Counter Strike 2, PUBGM, DotA 2, or Backgammon, played with great spirit and skill. The year is over, but the work for the next one has already begun.
MSSA is sending more teams to international events than ever before. These events include the International Esports Federation (IESF), the Global Esports Federation (GEF), and many others like the World Checkers Draughts Federation. To help athletes get ready, MSSA has created a detailed Calendar of Events. This calendar gives everyone a fair chance to qualify for the annual National Team Trials.
If you want to be selected for a National Team, you must participate in official MSSA events. There is no other way to qualify. Below is the full schedule for the 2026 season.
2026 Calendar of Events
The following table lists all the important dates, events, disciplines, and venues for the year.
Date
| Event
|
Discipline
|
Venue |
|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day | ||
| 14 January | End of school holidays | ||
| 17 January | Umpires’ Course – Online | Level 1 | Online |
| 24 January | NORTHERN CAPE Online Championships | Esports | Online |
| 7 February | Umpires’ Course – Gauteng | Level 1 | Old Edwardian Society |
| 14 February | 15th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships | All esports titles as approved at the AGM in December | Online |
| 19 – 21 February | Cape Town City Regional Backgammon Championships | Backgammon | Fire & Ice Hotel |
| 28 February | 7th WESTERN CAPE Online Championships | Esports | Online |
| 7 March | 6th GAUTENG Online Championships | Esports | Online |
| 14 March | National Team Trials for IESF World Championships | Esports – IESF titles | Online |
| 21 March | Human Rights Day | ||
| 27 March – 7 April | Government school holidays | ||
| 3 April | Good Friday | ||
| 6 April | Family Day | ||
| 11 & 12 April | Provincial School Championships for all provinces | Board and Figure games | Various venues |
| 12 April | Provincial School Championships for all provinces | Esports | Online |
| 24 April | 15th Provincial Online Championships | All esports titles as approved at the AGM in December | Online |
| 27 April | Freedom Day | ||
| 1 May | Workers’ Day | ||
| 2 May | 6th Provincial Online Student Championships | All esports titles as approved at the AGM in December | Online |
| 16 & 17 May | 38th GAUTENG Championships | Board games, Card games, Esports, wargames | TBA |
| 30 May | FINANCIAL AGM | Meeting | TBA |
| 30 & 31 May | 24th WESTERN CAPE Championships | Board games, Card games, Esports, wargames | TBA |
| 6 June | Umpires’ Course | Level 1 | Online |
| 13 & 14 June | SA School Championships | Board games, Card games, Esports, wargames | TBA |
| 16 June | Youth Day | ||
| 20 June | 6th SA School Online Championships | Esports | Online |
| 27 June – 20 July | Government school holidays | ||
| 20 & 21 July | 26th KWAZULU NATAL Championships | Board games, Card games, Esports, wargames | TBD |
| 27 July | 6th KWAZULU NATAL Online Championships | Esports | Online |
| Starting on 29 July | 1st round of 14th Annual School League | All esports titles as approved at the AGM in December | Online |
| 7 August | National Team Trials | For titles that qualify | TBD |
| 10 August | National Women’s Day | ||
| 15 & 16 August | 17th FREE STATE Championships /6th FREE STATE Online Championships | TBD | TBD |
| 29 & 30 August | 25th NORTH WEST Championships | Board games, Card games, Esports, wargames | TBD |
| 12 & 13 September | 17th EASTERN CAPE Championships / 3rd EASTERN CAPE Online Championships | Board games, Card games, Esports, wargames | TBD |
| 24 September | Heritage Day | ||
| 3 to 12 October | Government school holidays | ||
| 17 October | 5th NORTH WEST Online Championships | Esports | Online |
| 24 & 25 October | 8th LIMPOPO Championships / 4th LIMPOPO Online Championships | TBD | TBD |
| 1 November | Submit nominations of office-bearers | Admin | |
| 5 & 6 December | 34th S A NATIONAL Championships/ 4th Online SA NATIONAL Championships | Board games, Card games, Esports, wargames | TBD |
| 5 December | 41st NATIONAL CONVENTION | Annual General Meeting | TBD |
| 10 December | Government school holidays starts | ||
| 16 December | Day of Reconciliation | ||
| TBA | SRSA’s S A Schools Championships | Morabaraba | To be determined by SRSA |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | ||
| 26 December | Day of Goodwill |
Remember, to be part of the national team, you must attend these events. The calendar is set, so plan your year accordingly. Good luck to all the athletes.
