England Netball is celebrating a landmark 100 years in 2026, marking a century of shaping the sport and transforming opportunities for women and girls across the country. As one of the oldest and longest-established female-specific sporting governing bodies in England, England Netball’s centenary recognises not only the longevity of the organisation, but its pioneering role in advancing women’s sport.
The organisation was founded on 12 February 1926, when 230 delegates gathered at the YMCA on Tottenham Court Road in London, chaired by Miss Edith Thompson CBE, to form the All- England Women’s Net Ball Association. A century on, that founding commitment to an unapologetically female game continues to shape England Netball’s approach to the sport.
Centenary celebrations officially begin on Thursday 12 February 2026 with the launch of a year‐long national programme honouring the people, places and moments that have shaped netball. The programme will include national and community-led activity throughout 2026, from heritage storytelling and content inspired by England Netball’s extensive netball archives to moments that celebrate the modern game.
The centenary programme will also spotlight netball’s impact across generations, including a Centenary Masters Festival for women aged 35 and over, inspired by the Inter County Tournament last held in the 2005/2006 season. Events and initiatives across the year will celebrate netball’s enduring role in communities, from grassroots participation to the elite game.
Over a century of netball history goes on display this month, as part of the Centenary celebrations, at Heritage Quay, University of Huddersfield, where the sport’s national archive is held. The exhibition draws on the UK’s largest women’s-only sporting archive, featuring more than 15,000 artefacts that tell the story of the sport and its pioneers. Open Monday to Friday as part of a six-month residency, it celebrates netball’s enduring cultural and sporting impact.
While the centenary reflects on the past, it also recognises the role netball continues to play today as the most regularly played team sport for women in the country. Each year, three million people take to the court, with the sport reaching millions of women and girls through community participation, education, wellbeing and elite performance.
Fran Connolly, CEO of England Netball, commented: “Our centenary year is about celebrating the people, places and moments that have shaped netball over the last 100 years, while recognising the impact the sport continues to have today. It is a unique opportunity to honour a century of championing women and girls through sport and to reaffirm our commitment to growing the game for future generations.
“From grassroots volunteers and community clubs to the elite game, netball reaches hundreds of thousands of women and girls across England every week. As we reflect on our rich history, we are also looking boldly ahead. Netball is a sport that is unapologetically female and a place where women and girls can belong, flourish and soar. Our ambition for the next century is to ensure even more people feel welcomed, supported and empowered to be part of the game.”
Further centenary activity will be announced throughout 2026, including digital storytelling and community celebrations across England.
With thanks to England Netball
