40th Anniversary

Opening Ceremony

A large, diverse crowd of cheerful participants waves and smiles at an outdoor sporting event, with balloons and signs visible in the background.

Get ready to celebrate a major milestone as the Alice Springs Masters Games marks its 40th year in 2026 — and it’s kicking off in style.

Join us for a huge Opening Ceremony headlined by two iconic Australian rock acts — Baby Animals and Choirboys.

The free, family friendly event will take place at ANZAC Oval on Saturday 10 October, kicking off at 5pm, the participant march begins at 6pm, followed by live entertainment through to 10pm.

Local artist, Stuart Joel Nuggett , will also take the stage, setting the tone for an unforgettable Games.

Opening Ceremony Venue Map

We’ve got all the info you need to plan your night! Check out the Opening Ceremony venue map before you arrive to get familiar with ANZAC Oval and where everything is located.

Take a look, save it to your phone and you’ll be ready to kick off the 2026 Alice Springs Masters Games!

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Music

Choirboys

Few names are as synonymous with Australian pub rock as Choirboys. Formed on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 1978, the band has spent more than four decades shaping, and soundtracking, the country’s live music culture. Led by charismatic frontman Mark Gable, alongside long time members Lindsay Tebbutt and Ian Hulme, Choirboys came up in an era when rock poured out of pubs every night of the week, and they quickly became one of the scene’s defining acts.

Their 1987 smash hit Run to Paradise remains an Australian anthem, capturing the spirit of the 80s and propelling the band onto national and international charts, including the U.S. Billboard rankings. Follow up hits such as Boys Will Be Boys, Never Gonna Die and Struggle Town cemented their place in the country’s musical DNA, backed by multiple Top 30 albums and a recording deal with the legendary Albert Productions.

Renowned for their high energy live shows, Choirboys continue to deliver the raw, humorous and unmistakably Aussie rock experience fans love. Their recent stage production Run to Paradise: Great Australian Rock ’n’ Roll Stories further showcases the band’s legacy, blending music and storytelling from the golden era of pub rock. After 40 years, Choirboys remain true icons of Australian rock.

Baby Animals

Baby Animals burst onto the scene in the early ’90s with a string of smash hits and a #1, multi-platinum debut album.

Fronted by rock icon Suze DeMarchi, the band also features guitarist Dave Leslie, bassist Dario Bortolin and Ricki Rae on drums.

They’ve toured with the likes of Van Halen, Bryan Adams, ZZ Top, Robert Plant and many more and continue to tear up stages nationwide. A new album is slated for a 2026 release and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.

A promotional poster for the band Baby Animals. It features the band in an outback setting with text: "Performing live at Alice Springs Masters Games."

An event poster for Stuart Joel Nugger. It features a photo of a man performing in a studio with a guitar. Text: "Alice Springs Masters Games, 2026."

Stuart Joel Nuggett – Jingili Name: Kirriyangunji

(Pronounced: Girri-yar-ga-newn-jee)

Stuart Joel Nuggett is a Jingili man from Kulumindini (Elliott), in the Northern Territory, now based in Alice Springs.

Formally the frontman for Elliot rock band Stormriders, Stuart has since branched out on his own performing nationally as well as in the NT with his original songs.

After releasing an EP in the endangered Jingili language through the CAAMA Music label, Stuart has been signed to the label and has released his debut full length album in October 2020 called Ngaaya-Ma Jingila Baaya resulting in a NT tour with Darwin band David Garnham & The Reasons To Live.

Performing in both Jingili and English, Stuart Joel Nuggett is passionate about the plight of his people and hopes that through his songs he can connect with audiences from all walks of life.