Bridge Federation Of The ACT

The annual Australian National Championships (ANC) is one of the premier events in the Australian bridge calendar. In 2026 the ANC will be held in Canberra, hosted by BFACT (the Bridge Federation of the ACT).  In addition to the usual gold point national events, the ANC will include many red point congress events, catering for players at all levels. The available options are summarised in the program below.

ANCs are often dominated by players from the capital cities. To make the Canberra ANC a truly national event, we are excited to offer two new events exclusively for the members of the smaller or regional bridge clubs. The first event will be the Sean Mullamphy Australian Country Club Teams Championship held from 6 to 8 July 2026 (alongside the Interstate Teams Championships). Each eligible bridge club is invited to nominate one team of four to six players to compete in this red point event. Following the teams event, there will be a two-day red point Australian Country Pairs Championship on 9 to 10 July 2026. This event will be open to any pair where both players are from a small or regional Club. Pairs do not have to be nominated by a club, nor do they have to be members of the same club. There will be a $30 entry fee rebate for players entering both Country Club Championship events (the rebate will be processed after the congress).

The Individual event, previously advertised, has been replaced with a Graded Matchpoint Pairs event on Thursday 9th July.

Entries and Eligibility

Entries for most events will open on 1 January 2026. Early bird discounts apply until 3 Jun 2026.

Some events, including the Country Club Championships, have restrictions on who may enter. See the link here for full details.
Entrants to the Interstate Teams Championships must be nominated by their state/territory bridge associations. State/territory officials should contact Laurie Kelso to enter teams in these events.

As the Country Club Championship Teams event may be limited to one team per eligible club, club officials should contact the organisers directly to enter their nominated team. 

Acknowledgment
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people as traditional custodians of the land in the ACT region and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of Canberra and the region.

• Updated Accommodation Options
• TFE Discounts
• Our sponsors
• Program Summary
• Eligibility for ANC Events
• Information about Canberra and Belconnen
• Things to do in Canberra in July
• Canberra Climate in July
• Canberra Shopping
• Local Health and Medical Information
• Getting Around Canberra
• Venue Information
• Canberra Attractions
• Overview
• Supplementary Regulations

The Canberra Labor Club is easily accessed by car. Parking is available in the club's carpark at a cost of $15 per day (there is an early bird rate - $9 before 9am), entry from Edmonstone Place. There is also pay parking (with early bird rates) at the nearby Abode with alternatives in Chandler St or Cameron Ave. Parking on the weekends in some locations around Chandler St is free. Further along Edmonstone Place is the rear entry to the Labor Club with a pick-up point, note this door will not be open until 10am.

The Belconnen Bus Interchange and the Eastern Valley Way bus station are less than a five-minute walk from the Canberra Labor Club, in Cohen St. Bus timetables are available from the Transport Canberra website. The easiest way to pay for public transport in Canberra is to tap or scan (on your phone) a Mastercard/Visa credit card or MyWay+ travel cards. Seniors (including interstate) can travel for free during off peak times (peak times are weekdays before 9:00 am and between 4:30 to 6:00 pm).

ACT Cabs and 13cabs Canberra provide taxi services within Canberra.

The Canberra Labor Club is 18 km from the airport. In normal traffic, the trip by car should take about 25 minutes. A taxi from the airport to the club will cost approximately $60. The R3 (Rapid route 3) bus runs between the airport and the Belconnen Bus Interchange between 6 am and 10:30 pm, departing approximately every 15 minutes; the trip takes about 45 minutes. 

There is a train service from Sydney (Central) to Canberra (Kingston), running three times a day. It offers a leisurely, comfortable and affordable (seniors fares available) alternative to buses or planes. The R2 (Rapid route 2) bus runs between the railways station and the Belconnen Bus Interchange.

For more information about transport options, see the Getting Around Canberra download.

The Canberra Labor Club invites all bridge players to enjoy their Selections Bistro, Cafe on Chandler and bar facilities during the ANC. Visitors can access membership discounts by taking out temporary membership of the club at a cost of $1.  Giannis is a new Italian restaurant recently opened a few metres away in the Mercure Hotel. 

There are many other dining and bar options a short walk away in the Belconnen Town Centre. Check back for more dining options, including bridge player discounts, in 2026.