The Springboks vs All Blacks First Test lands at Emirates Airline Park (Ellis Park) in Johannesburg on Saturday 22 August 2026, kicking off a historic four-match series between South Africa and New Zealand. It is the first standalone Springboks and All Blacks tour of the professional era, and Gauteng gets the honour of hosting the opening clash.
Springboks vs All Blacks First Test tickets are the hottest sports tickets in the country right now. Rugby’s greatest rivalry needs little introduction. Since 1921, the Boks and the All Blacks have produced some of the most ferocious, finely balanced test matches the game has ever seen, and a full-strength series on South African soil is the kind of occasion fans wait a lifetime for. Ellis Park hosts the opener before the series moves on to Cape Town, FNB Stadium and finally Baltimore in the USA.
Why the Springboks vs All Blacks First Test is unmissable
Emirates Airline Park is hallowed ground for South African rugby. This is the stadium where the Springboks lifted the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and its steep stands and altitude advantage make it one of the most intimidating venues in world rugby. Expect a sea of green and gold, flyovers, anthems that raise goosebumps and an atmosphere that only a Boks and All Blacks test can deliver.
The opening test also sets the tone for the entire series. With the world champions defending home soil against their oldest rivals, bragging rights, rankings and history are all on the line in Doornfontein.
Event details
- Event: Springboks vs All Blacks First Test 2026
- Date: Saturday 22 August 2026
- Kick-off: 17:00
- Venue: Emirates Airline Park (Ellis Park), Doornfontein, Johannesburg
- Tickets: From about R1,650 to R4,000 — the R850 category sold out fast
- Booking: Via SA Rugby and Ticketmaster
Tickets and travel tips
Demand for the Springboks vs All Blacks First Test is enormous — the cheapest tickets sold out within days of release, and remaining seats are moving quickly. Book as early as possible and only buy through official channels to avoid disappointment.
Kick-off is at 17:00, but gates open well before and the pre-match build-up is half the fun. Arrive early, soak up the braai smoke and buzz around the precinct, and plan your transport home in advance as roads around the stadium close after the final whistle.
Making a weekend of it? Johannesburg is at its winter-sunshine best in August. Browse more events in Gauteng or discover top things to do in Johannesburg to round out your trip.
Springboks vs All Blacks First Test — quick FAQs
When is the Springboks vs All Blacks First Test? Saturday 22 August 2026, with kick-off at 17:00 at Emirates Airline Park (Ellis Park) in Doornfontein, Johannesburg. Gates open earlier in the afternoon, and fans are encouraged to be seated well before the anthems.
How much are Springboks vs All Blacks First Test tickets? Remaining seats run from about R1,650 up to R4,000 for premium positions. The R850 entry-level category sold out within days of going on sale, so do not wait if you want to be there.
Is the series coming back to Gauteng? Yes — after the second test in Cape Town, the teams return to Johannesburg for the third test at FNB Stadium on 5 September 2026, before the series wraps up in Baltimore in the USA.
Whether you are a lifelong Bok supporter or simply want to experience one of world sport’s great rivalries live, the atmosphere in Johannesburg on test day is something special. Pubs and fan parks across the city screen the build-up, Doornfontein and Ellis Park precinct come alive from midday, and the roar when the teams run out is worth the ticket alone. Add in Gauteng’s winter sunshine, easy airport access and thousands of travelling New Zealand fans, and the opening weekend of the 2026 series promises to be one of the biggest sporting occasions Johannesburg has hosted in years.
Plan your Springboks vs All Blacks First Test weekend
Turn the Springboks vs All Blacks First Test into a full Joburg weekend. On the Friday, wander the galleries and rooftop bars of Maboneng or take a city tour through Constitution Hill and Braamfontein. Match-day morning is perfect for a big breakfast in Melville before heading to Doornfontein early to beat the traffic. On Sunday, recover with a long lunch in Sandton or a visit to the Apartheid Museum before your flight home.
Springboks vs All Blacks First Test match-day logistics are straightforward. Public transport, park-and-ride facilities and e-hailing all serve Emirates Airline Park on major match days, and the precinct is well marshalled. Wear layers — August evenings at altitude get chilly once the sun drops — and bring a fully charged phone, as digital tickets are scanned at the gates. However the result goes, the Springboks vs All Blacks First Test will be talked about for years. Be able to say you were there.
