Pétanque in Vanuatu

Pétanque has been played informally across Vanuatu's islands for decades, a legacy of the archipelago's time as the New Hebrides, jointly administered by France and Britain until independence in 1980. Organized competition has ebbed and flowed since, and in 2026 a grassroots push in the capital, Port Vila, is working to bring structured play back after a long gap.

Federation

The Fédération de Pétanque du Vanuatu, based in Port-Vila (BP 703), is the country's federation affiliated to the FIPJP (Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal), per the federation's own listing in the FIPJP's official national-federation records. Its president is Jerry Moli.

Oceania Confederation

Vanuatu is one of the seven members of the Confédération de Pétanque de l'Océanie (Oceania Confederation), alongside Australia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia (Tahiti), New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna, and Palau. The Oceania Championship has been held every two years since 2010 and doubles as the region's qualifying event for the FIPJP World Championships.

A 2026 Revival in Port Vila

After more than a decade without an official competition, an interim committee formed in 2026 to revive organized pétanque in Vanuatu, starting with a tournament at the Port Vila Seafront. Committee member Nemani Gislapno told the Vanuatu Daily Post that the sport's appeal lies in being playable by people of all ages without needing a large playing area, and that many residents in Port Vila's suburbs and around the seafront had kept playing recreationally even through the competitive lull. Players registered for a VT500 entry fee, with proceeds going toward rebuilding the national federation and funding future competitions - a first step the organizers hope will lead to regular tournaments and a stronger pipeline toward regional and FIPJP-level play.

Where to Play

Port Vila, on Efate, is the hub of organized activity, centered on the seafront tournaments the revival committee is working to establish. Player and club directories also show recreational pétanque activity spread across the wider archipelago, including on Espiritu Santo (Luganville, Port-Olry), Malekula (Lakatoro, Norsup), Tanna (Isangel), Ambae (Saratamata), and Vanua Lava (Sola), reflecting how widely the game has taken root beyond the capital even without a formal club network.