The 2026 Battle of the Auctioneers will take place on June 8, the South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) has announced. Formally called the SAIA National Auction Championship, it will take place at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, and forms a highlight of a much bigger series of events, namely the SAIA Conference, the Auctioneering Exposition, and the SAIA AGM and SAIA Annual Awards.

Sponsored by the Meerkat Online Bidding platform (which powers many local auctioneering platforms), the championship will see the competing auctioneers perform before industry leaders and auctioneer peers. In every case, they will be undertaking genuine auctions, seeking to get the best prices for the goods they will be selling. Very importantly, all the proceeds will go to charity. The winner of the championship will be hailed as the SAIA Auctioneer of the Year. “The event will be filled with all the glitz and glamour of such a prestigious event,” assures SAIA. There is still time to enter the event.

The wider events will include presentations by legendary local auctioneers, “celebrity guests”, and motivational speakers. There will also be a Masterclass presented by US National Auction Association International Auctioneers World Champion Shane McCarrell.

“This year’s conference will also tackle some of the hottest topics affecting the local profession, with focused sessions that will cover everything from compliance and digital bidding to asset categories and market trends,” highlights SAIA. “The industry Expo will run alongside the event and feature specialist suppliers across auction finance, asset sourcing, compliance services and enabling technologies.”

The events are intended to bring the local auction community together, as well as display its capabilities, and also the capabilities of its large number of suppliers. The atmosphere can be summed up as “business meets camaraderie”, with important networking and information exchange opportunities, including a competitive golf day.