Curro Podium Grand Finale 2026 set for two days of elite school athletics
06 February 2026South Africa’s leading school athletics showcase returns to Tshwane on 13 and 14 February 2026, with the Curro Podium Grand Finale confirmed for Pilditch Stadium. Building on a landmark 2025 edition that brought together 1 970 athletes from South Africa and Namibia, the 2026 finale will again assemble the country’s top school competitors for two days of elite competition within an expanded programme spanning track and field, relays and invitational events.
Two days of competition across age groups
The programme spans primary to senior school athletics, with events scheduled across both days.
Friday opens with the Curro Podium Primary Schools (North) competition for athletes aged seven to 13. The focus then shifts to the Curro Podium Grand Finale Relays, featuring qualifying teams across multiple age categories in the 4x100m, 4x400m, Swedish and mixed relay events.
Day one also includes the opening of the Akani Simbine Classic Shoot Out, named in recognition of Olympic silver medallist Bayanda Walaza’s inspiring predecessor, followed by the official opening ceremony and the first block of track and field events.
Saturday concludes the track and field programme across all categories and features the final day of the Akani Simbine Classic Shoot Out. Athletes will compete in sprints, middle-distance races, hurdles, jumps and throws, with national-level competitors pushing boundaries and setting new standards.
Top schools earn their place
Qualification rounds have confirmed the top 30 boys’ teams, top 30 girls’ teams and top 30 combined teams for the Grand Finale. Among the schools represented are Hoërskool Menlopark, Curro Hazeldean, Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool, Paarl Gimnasium, Paarl Girls High and Hoërskool Noordheuwel.
Eight invitational schools will also take part, selected for their consistent contribution to school athletics: Upington High School, Curro Durbanville, Curro Hermanus, Nico Malan High School, Midstream College, Hoërskool Pietersburg, Hoërskool Die Anker and Hoërskool Eldoraigne.
Relay teams ready to compete
Relay qualification has drawn strong interest across all age groups, from Under-11 to Under-17. Schools such as Menlopark Primary School, Lynnwood Primary School, Curro Hazeldean, Die Hoërskool Menlopark and King Edward VII School have secured places across the 4x100m, 4x400m, Swedish and mixed relay formats.
Rising Stars squad announced
The Curro Rising Stars team will again compete, bringing together athletes from across the Curro network and partner schools. The 2026 squad is captained by Zachary Losper of Meridian Pinehurst and Sarah Reed of Curro Hillcrest, with Karabo Sephiri of Curro Hazeldean and Michaela Spocter of Meridian Pinehurst named as vice-captains. The team represents excellence across the Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 age groups.
Athletes from Curro Aurora, Curro Hazeldean, Curro Hermanus, Curro Hillcrest, Meridian Pinehurst, Northern Academy, Woodhill College and other schools will contest sprints, middle-distance races, hurdles, jumps and throws.
Momentum from a standout 2025 finale
Last year’s Grand Finale featured more than 50 national-level competitors. Tiisetso Malungane of Curro Hazeldean claimed the Junior Boys’ Track Athlete of the Event title, while Curro Hazeldean finished second in both the boys’ and combined team categories.
Curro Deputy CEO Mari Lategan reflected on the meaning of the platform, saying: ‘At Curro, EVERY child matters. And today, every athlete matters!’ She also highlighted the journey of Olympic silver medallist Bayanda Walaza, who competed at this event earlier in his career and ran 10.44 seconds in the 100m final before going on to become a World Junior Champion.
Broadcast and spectator access
The Curro Podium Grand Finale 2026 will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools, channel 216, with streaming available via the SuperSport Schools app. Spectator tickets for Pilditch Stadium will be available through Howler via Howler.
The event, which has become a platform for the region’s future athletics stars, continues to grow in stature year after year.
As Mari encouraged athletes at the last finale: ‘This is your moment. Give it your all, leave nothing behind, and most importantly – enjoy every second.’
The countdown is on for another weekend that places school athletics firmly in the national spotlight.
Provisional event programmes
- Curro Podium Primary Schools - Provisional Program
- Curro Podium Relays Grand Finale - Provisional Program
- Curro Podium Grand Finale - Provisional Program
