The Gold Coast border country is about to come alive with the sound of striking pins – and for the first time in its history, the Queensland Youth Cup will count for something beyond just a title.

Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin in Tweed Heads plays host from 1-4 May 2026 to a double-header weekend that brings together two of Queensland’s most beloved junior events. The 12^th edition of the Queensland Junior Cup arrives as one of the flagship events on the TBA Junior Division ranked calendar. Alongside it, the Queensland Youth Cup steps up for the first time as a TBA nationally ranked event for the Youth Division – making 2026 a landmark moment for under-21 bowling in Australia.

Organised by Queensland Junior Youth Tenpin in conjunction with the Tenpin Bowling Association of Queensland and Tenpin Bowling Australia, the combined event boasts over $16,000 in cash and prizes across the weekend – with first place guaranteed across every division.

Event Snapshot

• Event: 2026 Queensland Junior Cup
• Dates: 1-4 May 2026
• Venue: Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin
• Division: Junior
• Status: 2026 TBA National Ranked Event (A26/0143)
• Edition: 12th Edition
• Eligibility: 2026 TBA Registered members born on or after 1 January 2008

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• Event: 2026 Queensland Youth Cup
• Dates: 1-4 May 2026
• Venue: Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin
• Division: Youth
• Status: 2026 TBA National Ranked Event (A26/0143)
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Eligibility: 2026 TBA Registered members born on or after 1 January 2005

Why this event matters

Two nationally ranked events. One venue. One extraordinary long weekend.

The Queensland Junior Cup has been one of Queensland’s premier junior titles since 2015 – a proving ground where champions have been made and rivalries forged. This year, the QJC carries its full weight as a key points event on the TBA Junior Division national rankings calendar.

The other big story of this weekend is the Queensland Youth Cup’s elevation to national ranked status. For the first time, under-21 bowlers competing at Tweed Heads won’t just be bowling for a state title, they’ll be bowling for national ranking points in the TBA Youth Division. It’s a significant milestone for the Youth Division in Queensland, and the talent assembled this weekend will be well aware of the stakes.

With over $16,000 in cash and prizes across the combined event, the entry list promises to be one of the strongest the weekend has ever seen.

Key Storylines to Watch

A New Home on the Gold Coast Border

The Queensland Junior Cup has moved around Queensland over the years, but Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin – straddling the NSW border right in the heart of the Gold Coast holiday strip – gives the event a fresh backdrop and an exciting destination feel. The venue brings a tourist-town energy that should make for a memorable atmosphere across the long weekend.

The Youth Cup Goes National

For years, the Queensland Youth Cup has been contested alongside the QJC as a non-ranked companion event. In 2025, Nicholas Rjakovic (VIC) and Samantha Clifton (NSW) claimed those Youth Cup titles. In 2026, those bowlers – and every under-21 competitor who takes to the lanes at Coolangatta Tweed will be fighting for national ranking points for the first time. For youth bowlers who have been grinding their way through the ranked circuit, this is a genuine new opportunity to build a national profile.

The QJC Title Picture: Who Steps Up in 2026

The last two Queensland Junior Cup titles have gone to bowlers who used the event as a launchpad for bigger things. In 2024, Julian Dinham claimed the boys crown before going on to win the Australian Open in both 2024 and 2025 – cementing himself as arguably the most dominant junior-turned-open division bowler of his generation. IN 2025, William Zaccaria took out the QJC enroute to a breakout season that included the Australian Junior Masters crown. Brooke Buckingham’s 2025 girls title – won by just nine pins in front of a hometown crown – announced her as a genuine contender at the national level.

Format

Qualifying (Days 1-3)

Bowlers must nominate into a minimum of two squads of six games each (12 games total for qualifying). Ten squads run through Friday 1 May through Sunday 3 May at Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin. For bowlers who re-enter, the two highest 6-game block scores are used to determine qualifying placement.

Queensland Junior Cup – U18 Open

The top 12 boys and Top 12 girls from qualifying advance to Stage 2, bowling a further 4 games with pinfall carried over. The field then cuts to the top 6 in each gender for matchplay – 5 games of head-to-head round robin, with 30 bonus pins for a win and 15 for a tie. The boy and girl with the highest aggregate pinfall (including bonus pins) are crowned QJC Champions.

Restricted/Handicap Division

Bowlers outside the Stage 2 Open cut have their handicap applied to qualifying pinfall (100% of 220). The top 6 boys and top 6 girls in the handicap division contest a 5-game head-to-head final on Monday – with pinfall dropping from qualifying.

Queensland Youth Cup – U21

The top 12 males and top 12 females from qualifying advance to Stage 2 (4 further games, pinfall carries). The field cuts to the top 66 in each gender for matchplay – 5 games of head-to-head round robin, 30 bonus pins for a win, 15 for a tie. The winners are declared the inaugural nationally ranked Queensland Youth Cup Champions.

Finals Day – Monday 4 May

• U18 QJC Open – Check-in closes by 7:30AM
• U18 Restricted – Check-in closes 9:30AM
• U21 QYC Open – Check-in closes 12:00pm

The Award Ceremony takes place at the conclusion of Finals on Monday 4 May.

How to follow the event

The 2026 Queensland Junior Cup and Queensland Youth Cup runs from Friday 1 May through Monday 4 May at Coolangatta Tweeed Tenpin, 55 Wharf St, Tweed Heads NSW 2485. Scoring and live results will be available via tenpinresults.com.au. Admission is free for spectators.

All enquiries: [email protected]

QJC Past Champions

Year	Female	Male
2015	Breanna Kyte (QLD)	Matt Clague (QLD)
2016	Rebekah Commane (VIC)	Matt Clague (QLD)
2017	Rebekah Commane (VIC)	Kyle Annetts (ACT)
2018	Grace Fahy (VIC)	Nixon Chan (NSW)
2019	Sarah Pennicott (TAS)	Nixon Chan (NSW)
2020	Jessica Canfield (QLD)	Jackson Buckingham (QLD)
2021	Emily Meehan (NSW)	Blake Walsh (NSW)
2022	Tamika Pettigrew (QLD)	Blake Walsh (NSW)
2023	Emily Hart (SA)	Seth Gray (VIC)
2024	Bella Westlake (QLD)	Julian Dinham (NSW)
2025	Brooke Buckingham (QLD)	William Zaccaria (VIC)

2026 TBA Junior Division Rankings Schedule

1. TBA Junior Australian Masters:  COMPLETED
2. QLD Junior Cup: 1-4 May
3. Junior Sydney Cup: TBD
4. Louise Eady Melbourne Junior Cup: 26-27 September

2026 TBA Youth Division Rankings Schedule

1. Wyncity Youth Cup – COMPLETED
2. QLD Youth Cup – 1-4 May 2026
3. TBA21 National Masters – 16-19 July 2026
4. Grand National Youth Eliminator – 21-22 November 2026
5. Sydney Youth Cup – TBD