The 2026 Rainbow Games announces star‑studded ambassador line‑up
All Black history-maker Campbell Johnstone, football trailblazer Jaiyah Saelua, downhill mountain biking champion Kate Weatherly, badminton talent Hugo Chou and Pacific drag icon Buckwheat unite for Aotearoa's largest rainbow sporting event.
Rainbow Games 2026 has unveiled its official Games Ambassadors, bringing together sporting trailblazers, emerging talent and one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated LGBTQ+ performers ahead of the Games in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland from 29 October to 1 November 2026.
The ambassador line-up reflects the diversity, visibility and sporting spirit at the heart of Rainbow Games, with each ambassador helping inspire more rainbow people and allies to get involved.
CAMPBELL JOHNSTONE | RUGBY UNION
Campbell Johnstone made history as the first All Black to publicly come out as gay.
Johnstone represented the All Blacks in three Tests in 2005 and won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders. His career also took him overseas, where he played in France, Wales, Russia and Romania.
JAIYAH SAELUA | FOOTBALL
Jaiyah Saelua is fa’afafine and became the first openly non-binary and trans woman to compete in a FIFA World Cup qualifier while representing American Samoa.
A FIFA ambassador for equality and LGBTQI+ athletes, Saelua was also the subject of Taika Waititi’s 2023 film Next Goal Wins, starring Michael Fassbender.
KATE WEATHERLY | MOUNTAIN BIKING
In 2018, Kate Weatherly became Aotearoa’s national elite women’s downhill mountain biking champion.
The media attention that followed empowered Weatherly to be open about her trans identity and to advocate for a sporting world that is more inclusive, diverse and accessible to people from all backgrounds.
HUGO CHOU | BADMINTON
Hugo Chou has been a member of New Zealand’s national Under-19 badminton squad since 2020, finished runner-up at the 2022 Junior National Championships and has ranked in the Top 10 for both singles and doubles.
Now studying Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland, Chou is passionate about encouraging a new generation of rainbow athletes to take part in sport.
BUCKWHEAT | ALL ROUND FIT GIRL
Pioneering Pacific LGBTQ+ performance artist Buckwheat, aka Edward Cowley, brings four decades of performance, visibility and community advocacy to the advocacy to her role as a Rainbow Games Ambassador.
RAINBOW GAMES 2026
Rainbow Games 2026 will be the largest rainbow sporting event ever staged in Aotearoa New Zealand, following the successful inaugural Games held in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2024.
The 2026 Games feature 13 sports: Badminton, Basketball, Football, Functional Fitness, Kickball, Indoor Bowls, Netball, Running, Swimming, Ten Pin Bowling, Tennis, Touch and Volleyball, alongside Get Active options including Yoga and Zumba.
Participants can register individually or as part of a team, with options ranging from first-timers and social players through to competitive athletes.
The standard Rainbow Games registration fee is $69, with individual sport fees applying. Registration includes entry to the Opening Ceremony on Thursday 29 October and Closing Event on Sunday 1 November, player accreditation and the opportunity to compete for medals.
KEY DATES
Sunday 13 September - Rainbow Games team registrations for Auckland Marathon running events close. Participants can still enter directly through Auckland Marathon after this date.
Friday 16 October - General Rainbow Games registrations close. Late entries cannot be accepted.
Thursday 29 October - Rainbow Games 2026 begins with the flamboyant Opening Ceremony.
Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November - The Rainbow Games take place.
Sunday 1 November - Final competitions and the Rainbow Games Closing Event.
Registrations are open now at rainbowgames.co.nz
