2025 Imparja Cup Dates Confirmed

The dates of the 32nd Annual Imparja Cup sponsored by DXC Technology, the largest Indigenous cricket carnival in Australia, have been confirmed with the event set to take place in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) from 15 -19 February 2025.

Held on Arrernte land, the Imparja Cup draws hundreds of Indigenous players, coaches, match officials and volunteers together from diverse communities across the Northern Territory to celebrate cricket, country, and culture.

The largest Indigenous cricket carnival in Australia, has become a national celebration, building on its roots as a local cricket match between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs in 1994 and evolving over decades into a culturally significant sporting event.

In 2025, there will again be four divisions of competition - Major Centres, Men’s Community, Women’s Community and Schools.

NT Cricket is also excited to host the popular ‘Imparja Schools Cup Day’ consisting of hundreds of local primary school students playing cricket and aimed at inspiring a new generation of young Indigenous Australians to play and love the game.

NT Cricket CEO, Gavin Dovey, said

“The Imparja Cup continues to be the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Indigenous cricket and we are proud and committed to ensuring this incredible cricket story continues for years to come.

We look forward to working closely with our Indigenous community to make the 32nd edition of this event bigger and better than ever.

Excitingly, the Imparja Cup now also shapes as a genuine selection vehicle for our talented male and female players keen to represent the NT at the National Indigenous Cricket Championships in Mackay in April.”

Alice Springs Mayor, Matt Paterson, expressed

“We are thrilled to welcome the 32nd Annual Imparja Cup back to our beautiful town.

What a great opportunity to come together on Arrernte country to celebrate community, culture, town spirit – and of course, see some sensational cricket!

We are proud to support NT Cricket’s fantastic festival which continues to inspire future players and fans alike”

Shane Franey, co-founder of the Imparja Cup, said

“On behalf of the Arrernte People of Alice Springs, we warmly welcome all Imparja Cup visitors to our Country. We wish you a safe and enjoyable carnival, played in the true Spirit of Cricket and sportsmanship, both on and off the field. 

We extend our gratitude to NT Cricket for 32 years of partnership with the Aboriginal cricketing community and offer a special welcome to the Warumungu cricketers from Tennant Creek"

Team Registration

  • The 2025 Imparja Cup Registration is free and now open to new and past teams from the Northern Territory and around Australia.
  • Team Composition for all divisions can be found here
  • Teams wishing to nominate to play in the Imparja Cup are asked to complete the online form available here.
  • Eligibility Exemption form can be found here

Match Officials Registration

  • NT Cricket is also seeking expressions of interest from Umpires and Scorers who would like to be part of the 2025 Imparja Cup.
  • Umpires and Scorers wishing to officiate at the Imparja Cup are asked to complete the online form available here.

History

The Imparja Cup is Australia’s biggest indigenous cricket festival, originally founded by custodians, Shane Franey and Ross Williams, as a family match between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek in 1994. The Imparja Cup has made a significant contribution to the history and story of indigenous cricket in Australia, and was the event and foundation on which CA created the National Indigenous Cricket Championships in 2016.

 Event Dates

Dingo Cup

Timber Creek

11-13 October 2024

Barra Cup

Borroloola

8-10 November 2024

Nitmiluk Cup

Katherine

29-1 December 2024

Rossy Williams Shield

Tennant Creek

7-9 February 2025

Imparja Cup

Alice Springs

15-19 February 2025