The 2026 season marks the most significant structural overhaul in the history of South African women’s club football as the South African Football Association, Hollywoodbets and the SABC announced the new format at the SABC Studio in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, moving the league from its familiar 16-team national round-robin competition into two separate streams of eight teams each, designed to reduce the financial burden on clubs, strengthen the broadcast product and concentrate high-stakes football at each festival venue across all nine provinces.
“The introduction of the festivals for this league will enhance the event experience for fans, level the competition for clubs and enhance the broadcast for viewers at home on the SABC platform.”
SAFA CEO, Lydia Monyepao
“This enables us to increase the number of televised matches on SABC and thus enhancing sponsor value for Hollywoodbets, and also attract new sponsors,” said Monyepao.
The Super Era stream, which opens in Soweto on Saturday, lines up defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies alongside TS Galaxy Queens, the University of the Western Cape, Copperbelt Ladies FC, Richmond United Ladies, Stellenbosch, the University of Pretoria and Diepkloof Ladies.
Saturday, 23 May sees Copperbelt Ladies FC face Richmond United Ladies at 09:00, TS Galaxy Queens take on the University of the Western Cape at 12:00, and Stellenbosch meet the University of Pretoria at 15:00, with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ opening clash against Diepkloof Ladies to follow on Sunday, 24 May at 15:00, live on SABC Sport.
The Super Rise stream brings together JVW FC, Tshwane University of Technology, the University of Fort Hare, the University of Johannesburg, Ezemvelo FC, City Lads, First Touch Academy and Ramatlaohle, with several of these clubs competing in the Hollywoodbets Super League for the first time.
The Super Rise opens the entire festival weekend on Friday, 22 May at 19:00 with JVW FC facing Ramatlaohle live on SABC Sport, before Tshwane University of Technology meet City Lads on Saturday at 18:00, and the University of Fort Hare take on First Touch Academy and the University of Johannesburg face Ezemvelo FC on Sunday, 24 May, with the latter fixture also broadcast live on SABC Sport.
Hollywood Group spokesperson Vuyisile Ngobese reaffirmed the title sponsor’s commitment to the league’s ambitions. “Hollywoodbets has believed in the potential of women’s football since day one,” said Ngobese.
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“This new format will create a stronger platform for clubs and players and provide a better experience for supporters across the country. Together with SAFA, we remain committed to helping grow and professionalise the women’s game in South Africa.”
The season’s marquee moment will be the Championship Match, a new end-of-season showpiece introduced to give the league a signature event capable of anchoring fan, sponsor and broadcast interest. The structure also paves the way for the two-division competition in 2027, meaning clubs on both streams are already playing, in effect, for their place in next season’s hierarchy.
A refreshed digital home for the league at nwl.co.za gives fans a dedicated platform to follow results, fixtures and news throughout the campaign.
The SABC remains the league’s broadcast partner, and the festival format has been designed specifically to maximise the number of televised matches and raise the production standard of each broadcast window. Keletso Totlhanyo, Head of Sport at the SABC, captured the broadcaster’s investment in the women’s game plainly.
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“For us, this is just not about broadcasting matches,” said Totlhanyo. “It is about giving women’s sport the respect, platform and future it deserves. As a public service media, we have the reach and responsibility to ensure that women’s sport is accessible to all communities.”
Main Photo Caption: Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies among sides set to open their title challenge as the 2026 Hollywoodbets Super League launches its inaugural festival format at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus on Friday, 22 May 2026. File Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
