Dubai 7s 2026 will bring together 28 international teams for 70 matches from November 27 to 29, with HSBC SVNS 3 joining the festival for the first time. Fans can expect world-class rugby, emerging talent, live entertainment and tickets starting from AED 75.
DUBAI: Dubai 7s 2026 is set to become the world’s biggest international rugby sevens tournament, bringing 28 men’s and women’s teams together for 70 matches at The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29. The expanded event will feature HSBC SVNS 3 alongside the elite HSBC SVNS competition for the first time.
The three-day festival, taking place ahead of the UAE National Day holiday, will combine international rugby with amateur sports, live music and family entertainment.
What makes this year’s Dubai 7s historic?
The introduction of HSBC SVNS 3 adds 12 international teams to the tournament, creating a bigger platform for emerging rugby nations.
Six men’s and six women’s teams will compete for promotion, with the top two teams in each competition advancing to HSBC SVNS 2 in 2027.
The men’s competition includes Hong Kong China, Canada, Chile, Italy, Samoa and Zimbabwe. China, Mexico, Poland, Samoa and Colombia have qualified for the women’s event, with one additional place yet to be confirmed.
HSBC SVNS 3 begins on Friday, November 27, with its finals scheduled for Saturday, November 28.
New Zealand begins title defence against Fiji
Defending men’s champions New Zealand will open their campaign against Fiji at 12.36pm on Saturday, November 28.
South Africa will face Argentina at 11.52am, while another major encounter features South Africa against Australia at 2.55pm.
In the women’s competition, defending champions New Zealand begin against Japan at 11.06am. Australia, France, Spain and USA are among the other leading contenders.
The HSBC SVNS men’s and women’s finals will take place on Sunday, November 29.
More sports, music and family entertainment
Beyond international rugby, Dubai 7s 2026 will feature netball, cricket, padel, fitness competitions and Gaelic football, which makes its festival debut.
International Invitational rugby competitions will also feature representation from Argentina, Brazil, China, South Africa and Spain.
Music fans can look forward to performances by Melanie C and Jax Jones at Beats on 2, alongside additional entertainment throughout the weekend.
Dubai 7s ticket prices and dates
Tickets are available through the official Emirates Dubai 7s website.
Friday admission starts at AED 75, while Saturday and Sunday passes cost AED 455 each. Three-day general admission starts at AED 595, with family packages available for AED 1,136.
Impact to expect
The expanded tournament is expected to strengthen Dubai’s reputation as an international sports destination, attract rugby supporters from overseas and create additional opportunities for emerging teams. It could also support tourism, hospitality and local businesses during the National Day holiday period.
The scale of Dubai 7s 2026 also gives developing rugby nations greater international exposure and a clearer pathway towards elite competition.
