The Negeri Sembilan Fencing Association (NSFA) has announced the return of one of Malaysia’s growing grassroots fencing showcases, the NS Matrix Fencing Festival 2026, scheduled to take place from 27 to 30 June at Karisma Arena in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
The four-day festival will combine three tournaments under one banner, drawing youth, senior and veteran fencers to Negeri Sembilan in a multi-tier competition designed to strengthen the sport’s development pipeline in Malaysia and the wider region.
According to the organisers, the festival will feature the Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge 2026 (NSYC2026), the Negeri Sembilan Open Championship 2026 (NSOC2026) and the Negeri Sembilan Masters Challenge 2026 (NSMC2026).
The youth challenge (NSYC2026) remains the centrepiece of the event, with individual competitions for Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-17 categories. Team events will also be contested in the Under-12 and Under-17 divisions across all three fencing disciplines: foil, épée and sabre.
In addition to individual medals, clubs will compete for team honours based on cumulative points in each weapon category. A special overall prize, the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Shield, will be awarded to the club or organisation that achieves the best overall performance during the youth competition.
The NSOC2026 will feature individual events for male and female fencers aged 13 and above, while the NSMC2026 will cater to veteran competitors, with categories for women aged 35 and above and men aged 40 and above.
NSFA president Tengku Dato’ Mu’adzam Sadruddin bin Tengku Noone Aziz said the festival is expected to bring together a diverse field of competitors and visitors, reinforcing the role of sport in promoting the state.
“We can’t wait to see some exciting action from our competitors over these four days and we are looking forward to having our guests celebrate Negeri Sembilan’s culture, history and of course enjoy the fabulous ‘Nogori’ food,” he said.
The festival also aligns with the broader Visit Malaysia 2026 and Visit Negeri Sembilan 2026 tourism campaigns, which aim to position the state as a destination for sporting events and youth competitions.
Organisers say the event is open to both Malaysian and international participants, reflecting the increasingly regional nature of fencing competitions in Southeast Asia. Youth tournaments such as the Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge have in recent years attracted competitors from neighbouring countries, contributing to cross-border exposure for young athletes.
Preliminary entry forms for the 2026 edition are due by 31 March, while official registration opens on 1 April and closes on 1 June.
The tournament will be held at Karisma Arena, Seremban, with further details and registration information available on the NSFA website and social media platforms. 