THE HOSPITALITY CUP RETURNS FOR 2026

The Hospitality Cup, the industry’s leading 5-a-side football tournament, has confirmed its return to Australia in 2026, with its most ambitious local expansion to date.

Forget the pass for a day. It’s time to hit the pitch.

Founded by Jean-Baptiste Dumas of France Soir, the Cup has grown from a casual industry kick-around into a global platform built around connection, wellbeing, and sustainability in hospitality.

For the TSCA community, this isn’t about football alone. It’s about taking the pressure off service and putting people back at the centre of the industry.

THE 2026 AUSTRALIAN CALENDAR

The Australian leg kicks off in Melbourne before heading north and finishing in Sydney. All events run on Mondays, deliberately timed around the realities of hospitality rosters.

Melbourne
Monday 2 March
10am–5pm
Sold out (waitlist open)

Gold Coast
Monday 20 April
10am–5pm
Registrations open

Sydney
Monday 7 September
10am–5pm
Early bird registrations open

The Hospitality Cup also continues its global rollout in 2026, with international tournaments scheduled for New York City (June), Austin (September), and Miami (November).

MORE THAN A GAME

“The industry is built on people, yet we often overlook the toll this work can take,” Jean said at the 2026 launch.

The Cup creates a space outside the dining room where chefs, front-of-house, and operators reconnect without tickets, bookings, or service pressure.

Teams are mixed and inclusive, representing every role in the venue. Executive chefs line up next to commis, sommeliers, managers, and dishwashers. Football experience is optional. Turning up for each other is not.

Fundraising remains a core pillar of the event, with proceeds supporting mental health initiatives and partners including RUOK?, reinforcing the Cup’s role in driving tangible wellbeing outcomes across the sector.

WHO’S LACING UP

While entries are open to everyone, the Cup continues to attract some of the most respected kitchens in the country. Past and returning participants include:

Rae’s at Wategos
Icebergs Dining Room & Bar
Aria Sydney
Merivale
Attica
The Scott Pickett Group
France Soir

It’s grassroots in format, but serious in calibre.

WHY IT MATTERS FOR YOUR KITCHEN

For head chefs and owners, entering a team delivers more than a day off the line.

Retention over rotation
Shared experiences outside service build trust and loyalty that no staff meal can replicate.
Real bragging rights
The competition is inclusive, but the pride of winning runs deep within the industry.
Connection without ego
Operators, chefs, and teams connect in a neutral setting, supported by brand activations and post-game social zones that keep the focus on people, not profiles.

TSCA INDUSTRY TAKEAWAY

In an industry defined by long hours and emotional labour, the Hospitality Cup is a reminder to step back and reconnect.

As Jean puts it, it’s about finding something positive and physical to share, away from the heat of service.

Registrations are now open for the Gold Coast and Sydney events. If your venue wants its name on the trophy and your team off the line for the day, now’s the time to lock it in.

HOW TO ENTER

Registrations for the 2026 Hospitality Cup are now open.

Teams can enter, view city-specific details, and secure places for upcoming events via the official Hospitality Cup website:  https://www.hospitalitycup.com