Canberra Athletes and Clubs Eye Fresh Options as Venues Reopen

The AIS Arena in Canberra reopened in July 2026 following a $15 million federal government upgrade, marking its first opening in four years. Local athletes and clubs now have access to the refreshed indoor venue after the long closure.

Facility improvements matter at this point because several projects reached completion or advanced stages in the middle of 2026. Teams that had trained elsewhere or scaled back schedules can return to familiar locations or shift to newer courts and fields without waiting for further announcements.

Named sites and funding details

Construction has begun on a new $9.9 million Gungahlin tennis facility with 10 courts, expected to finish in September 2026. The ACT Government committed $37.5 million to expand Belconnen Basketball Stadium, adding three indoor courts and a 1,800-seat show court in the 2026-27 budget. A new 3,600-capacity ice sports facility named Canberra Arena is planned in Tuggeranong with an anticipated opening in 2025, though construction timelines may face delays given the current date is July 2026. The 2025-26 ACT Budget includes investments for new playing fields and a pavilion in Taylor, plus the first stage of Stromlo District Playing Fields in Molonglo.

These allocations appear in official budget documents and government releases that list exact dollar figures and court counts. The numbers show a spread of indoor and outdoor work across northern, western and southern districts rather than concentration in one area.

Next steps for clubs and athletes

Teams and individual athletes can check booking calendars at the AIS Arena and contact district councils about timelines for the Gungahlin courts and Belconnen expansion. Updates on the Tuggeranong ice facility and the Taylor and Molonglo fields will come through the same government channels that released the budget figures.