• Latest News

2026 GNOT FORMAT

Phase 1 – Club & State Qualifying Events

Clubs and states will continue to conduct qualifying events under existing arrangements.

 Phase 2 – Online National Qualifying Final

Dates: Friday 18 September – Sunday 20 September 2026
Format: Online
Field: 64 teams
Duration: 2.5 days (0.5 days less than previously)

From Phase 2:

1. 8 Open teams qualify for the F2F National Final
2. 12 Non-Metro teams qualify for the F2F National Final

 (Previously: 4 Open and 8 Non-Metro teams)

 Phase 3 – Face-to-Face National Final

Dates: Friday 27 November – Sunday 29 November 2026
Venue: Queensland Contract Bridge Club (QCBC), Brisbane
Tournament Organisers: Kim and Ray Ellaway

Open Final (8 teams):
Quarter Final → Semi Final → Final and playoff for 3rd place

Non-Metro Final (12 teams):
Format: 12 x 14 board matches with a round-robin for the first 11 matches and then first plays second, third plays fourth through to eleventh plays 12^th. 

NEW EVENT: GNOT PLATE

A new open-entry gold point teams event will be run alongside the National Final. The GNOT Plate will be limited to 38 teams, 4 teams from the quarter finals of the main event and the other 34 places available on a first come, first served basis.

Event: Grand National Open Teams Plate
Dates: Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 November
Venue: QCBC, Brisbane
Format: Teams, 8 x 14 board matches
Masterpoints: Gold (Grade A2 – same level as major gold congresses)
Entry Fee: $100 per player (2 days)

  FEES AND FINANCIAL SETTINGS

The following fee changes for 2026 will apply:

1. Club qualifying entry fee: increasing from $10 to $14 per team**
2. National Final entry fee: increasing from $300 to $400 per team

This increase in the club qualifying fee is the first increase in many years.  The national final entry fee will remain significantly below the historical F2F entry level of $750.

** Note for pairs based qualifying events the entry fee is $7 per pair and the ABF only requires one payment per player irrespective of the number of qualifying events they participate in.

 • Contact