The AFL landscape has been dramatically shaped by an active off-season, with major trades and the National Draft fueling anticipation across all 18 clubs. As team lists are locked in for the upcoming season, the focus now turns to the highly anticipated 2026 AFL Fixture release, which lays the groundwork for another exhilarating year of Australian Rules football.
The special, pre-season Opening Round (Round 0) returns, expanding this year to a five-match spectacular. The action officially begins on Thursday, March 5th, with the Sydney Swans hosting Carlton at the SCG. A key highlight is the addition of a standalone Victorian fixture—a historic first—with St Kilda facing Collingwood on Sunday evening at the MCG, serving as the official Melbourne curtain-raiser before Round 1. The reigning premiers, the Brisbane Lions, will celebrate their flag unfurling when they take on the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Gather Round is scheduled for Round 5 (April 9–12), once again bringing all league matches to South Australia. This celebrated footy festival kicks off on Thursday night with the Adelaide Crows hosting Carlton at Adelaide Oval.
The structured Bye Rounds are back between Rounds 12 and 16. This structure is designed to guarantee supporters a minimum of seven games to watch every weekend. Crucially, the system introduced in 2025 has been maintained: teams that participated in the two-bye Opening Round will not play against clubs yet to have their mid-season rest.
Among the major structural updates for 2026 is the adoption of a Wildcard Finals Round. This new structure extends the post-season to five weeks by featuring teams ranked 7th through 10th in wildcard knockout matches, intensifying the race for a finals berth late in the season.
With all these exciting changes, there is certainly an abundance of reasons for any Aussie Rules enthusiast to feel thrilled. Be sure to scroll down to review the full, detailed 2026 AFL fixture.
Also, we’ll be providing previews and best bets for each and every game of the 2026 AFL season, so make sure to head over to our AFL Betting Tips page regularly to keep up to date with all of our content. On top of that, be sure to check out our full list of sports betting websites to make sure you’re getting the best odds!
2026 AFL Fixture
OPENING ROUND
Thursday March 5: Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG (7:30pm AEDT)
Friday March 6: Gold Coast Suns v Geelong Cats, People First Stadium (8:05pm AEDT)
Saturday March 7: GWS Giants v Hawthorn, ENGIE Stadium (4:15pm AEDT)
Saturday March 7: Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs, The Gabba (7:35pm AEDT)
Sunday March 8: St Kilda v Collingwood, MCG (7:20pm AEDT)
ROUND 1
Thursday March 12: Carlton v Richmond, MCG (7:30pm AEDT)
Friday March 13: Essendon v Hawthorn, MCG (7:40pm AEDT)
Saturday March 14: Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (1:15pm AEDT)
Saturday March 14: Geelong Cats v Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium (4:15pm AEDT)
Saturday March 14: Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions, SCG (7:10pm AEDT)
Saturday March 14: Collingwood v Adelaide Crows, MCG (7:35pm AEDT)
Sunday March 15: North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (1:10pm AEDT)
Sunday March 15: Melbourne v St Kilda, MCG (3:15pm AEDT)
Sunday March 15: Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles, People First Stadium (6:10pm AEDT)
ROUND 2
Thursday March 19: Hawthorn v Sydney Swans, MCG (7:30pm AEDT)
Friday March 20: Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (7:40pm AEDT)
Saturday March 21: Richmond v Gold Coast Suns, MCG (1:15pm AEDT)
Saturday March 21: GWS Giants v St Kilda, ENGIE Stadium (4:15pm AEDT)
Saturday March 21: Fremantle v Melbourne, Optus Stadium (7:35pm AEDT)
Sunday March 22: Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (3:15pm AEDT)
Sunday March 22: West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium (6:10pm AEDT)
Byes: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong Cats
ROUND 3
Thursday March 26: Geelong Cats v Adelaide Crows, GMHBA Stadium (7:30pm AEDT)
Friday March 27: Collingwood v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (7:40pm AEDT)
Saturday March 28: St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (1:15pm AEDT)
Saturday March 28: Fremantle v Richmond, Optus Stadium (4:15pm AEDT)
Saturday March 28: Essendon v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (7:35pm AEDT)
Sunday March 29: Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (12:30pm AEDT)
Sunday March 29: Carlton v Melbourne, MCG (3:15pm AEDT)
Byes: Gold Coast Suns, Hawthorn, Sydney Swans, Western Bulldogs
ROUND 4
Thursday April 2: Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, The Gabba (7:30pm AEDT)
Friday April 3: North Melbourne v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (3:15pm AEDT)
Friday April 3: Adelaide Crows v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (7:15pm AEDT)
Saturday April 4: Richmond v Port Adelaide, MCG (4:15pm AEDT)
Saturday April 4: West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium (7:35pm AEDT)
Sunday April 5: Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, MCG (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday April 5: Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Marvel Stadium (7:20pm AEST)
Monday April 6: Hawthorn v Geelong Cats, MCG (3:15pm AEST)
Byes: GWS Giants, St Kilda
ROUND 5 (Gather Round – South Australia)
Thursday April 9: Adelaide Crows v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (7:40pm AEST)
Friday April 10: Collingwood v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (7:40pm AEST)
Saturday April 11: North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Barossa Park (12:35pm AEST)
Saturday April 11: Essendon v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday April 11: Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns, Norwood Oval (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday April 11: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday April 12: Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles, Norwood Oval (12:30pm AEST)
Sunday April 12: GWS Giants v Richmond, Barossa Park (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday April 12: Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (7:15pm AEST)
ROUND 6
Thursday April 16: Carlton v Collingwood, MCG (7:30pm AEST)
Friday April 17: Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium (7:20pm AEST)
Friday April 17: Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (7:50pm AEST)
Saturday April 18: Gold Coast Suns v Essendon, People First Stadium (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday April 18: Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday April 18: Adelaide Crows v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday April 19: North Melbourne v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (1:10pm AEST)
Sunday April 19: Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, MCG (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday April 19: West Coast Eagles v Fremantle, Optus Stadium (5:10pm AEST)
ROUND 7 (ANZAC Round)
Thursday April 23: Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (7:30pm AEST)
Friday April 24: Richmond v Melbourne, MCG (7:40pm AEST)
Saturday April 25: Hawthorn v Gold Coast Suns, UTAS Stadium (12:15pm AEST)
Saturday April 25: Essendon v Collingwood, MCG (3:15pm AEST)
Saturday April 25: Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (6:35pm AEST)
Saturday April 25: Fremantle v Carlton, Optus Stadium (8:15pm AEST)
Sunday April 26: St Kilda v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (1:10pm AEST)
Sunday April 26: Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows, The Gabba (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday April 26: GWS Giants v North Melbourne, Manuka Oval (4:40pm AEST)
ROUND 8
Thursday April 30: Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG (7:30pm AEST)
Friday May 1: Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (7:20pm AEST)
Friday May 1: Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (8:10pm AEST)
Saturday May 2: Essendon v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 2: West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Optus Stadium (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 2: Geelong Cats v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (4:35pm AEST)
Saturday May 2: Carlton v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday May 3: Sydney Swans v Melbourne, SCG (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday May 3: Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants, People First Stadium (7:20pm AEST)
ROUND 9 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round - Part 1)
Thursday May 7: Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium (7:30pm AEST)
Friday May 8: Brisbane Lions v Carlton, The Gabba (7:20pm AEST)
Friday May 8: Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (8:10pm AEST)
Saturday May 9: North Melbourne v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 9: GWS Giants v Essendon, ENGIE Stadium (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 9: Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda, TIO Stadium (7:10pm AEST)
Saturday May 9: Geelong Cats v Collingwood, MCG (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday May 10: Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (1:10pm AEST)
Sunday May 10: Richmond v Adelaide Crows, MCG (3:15pm AEST)
ROUND 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round - Part 2)
Thursday May 14: Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats, The Gabba (7:30pm AEST)
Friday May 15: Sydney Swans v Collingwood, SCG (7:20pm AEST)
Friday May 15: Gold Coast Suns v Port Adelaide, TIO Stadium (8:10pm AEST)
Saturday May 16: Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 16: Melbourne v Hawthorn, MCG (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 16: Carlton v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday May 17: Essendon v Fremantle, MCG (1:10pm AEST)
Sunday May 17: St Kilda v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday May 17: West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants, Optus Stadium (6:15pm AEST)
ROUND 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round - Part 2)
Thursday May 21: Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, UTAS Stadium (7:30pm AEST)
Friday May 22: Richmond v Essendon, MCG (7:40pm AEST)
Friday May 22: Fremantle v St Kilda, Optus Stadium (8:30pm AEST)
Saturday May 23: North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 23: Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans, GMHBA Stadium (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 23: Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, MCG (4:35pm AEST)
Saturday May 23: Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday May 24: GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions, ENGIE Stadium (12:30pm AEST)
Sunday May 24: Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (3:15pm AEST)
ROUND 12
Thursday May 28: St Kilda v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7:30pm AEST)
Friday May 29: Carlton v Geelong Cats, MCG (7:40pm AEST)
Saturday May 30: Sydney Swans v Richmond, SCG (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 30: Brisbane Lions v Fremantle, The Gabba (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday May 30: Western Bulldogs v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday May 31: Melbourne v GWS Giants, TIO Traeger Park Oval (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday May 31: West Coast Eagles v Essendon, Optus Stadium (7:20pm AEST)
Byes: Adelaide Crows, Gold Coast Suns, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide
ROUND 13
Thursday June 4: Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (7:30pm AEST)
Friday June 5: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, MCG (7:40pm AEST)
Saturday June 6: Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, People First Stadium (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday June 6: North Melbourne v Fremantle, Hands Oval (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday June 6: West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide, Optus Stadium (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday June 7: Sydney Swans v St Kilda, SCG (3:15pm AEST)
Sunday June 7: Essendon v Carlton, MCG (7:20pm AEST)
Monday June 8: Collingwood v Melbourne, MCG (3:15pm AEST) – King's Birthday
Byes: GWS Giants, Richmond
ROUND 14
Thursday June 11: Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium (7:30pm AEST)
Friday June 12: Geelong Cats v Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA Stadium (7:40pm AEST)
Saturday June 13: Melbourne v Essendon, MCG (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday June 13: North Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday June 13: Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday June 14: Richmond v Brisbane Lions, Ninja Stadium (1:10pm AEST)
Sunday June 14: St Kilda v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (3:15pm AEST)
Byes: Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Hawthorn
ROUND 15
Thursday June 18: Fremantle v Geelong Cats, Optus Stadium (7:30pm AEST)
Friday June 19: Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn, People First Stadium (7:40pm AEST)
Saturday June 20: Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (1:15pm AEST)
Saturday June 20: GWS Giants v Carlton, ENGIE Stadium (4:15pm AEST)
Saturday June 20: Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG (7:35pm AEST)
Sunday June 21: Richmond v North Melbourne, MCG (1:10pm AEST)
Sunday June 21: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (3:15pm AEST)
Byes: Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles
ROUND 16 – Floating Fixture (Dates and Times TBC)
TBC: Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba (TBC)
TBC: Carlton v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Collingwood v Richmond, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Hawthorn v GWS Giants, MCG (TBC)
TBC: North Melbourne v Essendon, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
Byes: Geelong Cats, Melbourne, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs
ROUND 17 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions, GMHBA Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood, People First Stadium (TBC)
TBC: GWS Giants v Fremantle, Manuka Oval (TBC)
TBC: Hawthorn v Melbourne, UTAS Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Port Adelaide v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Richmond v Carlton, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, SCG (TBC)
TBC: West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (TBC)
ROUND 18 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Brisbane Lions v Essendon, The Gabba (TBC)
TBC: Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Collingwood v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Fremantle v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium (TBC)
TBC: GWS Giants v Geelong Cats, ENGIE Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (TBC)
TBC: St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
ROUND 19 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Collingwood v Carlton, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Essendon v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Geelong Cats v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs, People First Stadium (TBC)
TBC: North Melbourne v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows, SCG (TBC)
TBC: West Coast Eagles v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium (TBC)
ROUND 20 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Adelaide Crows v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide, The Gabba (TBC)
TBC: Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium (TBC)
TBC: GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, ENGIE Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG (TBC)
TBC: North Melbourne v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
ROUND 21 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Collingwood v Geelong Cats, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Essendon v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, People First Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Port Adelaide v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Richmond v West Coast Eagles, MCG (TBC)
TBC: St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
ROUND 22 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Adelaide Crows v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn, The Gabba (TBC)
TBC: Geelong Cats v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium (TBC)
TBC: GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, Manuka Oval (TBC)
TBC: Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG (TBC)
TBC: St Kilda v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide, SCG (TBC)
TBC: West Coast Eagles v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
ROUND 23 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, The Gabba (TBC)
TBC: Essendon v Sydney Swans, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Fremantle v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (TBC)
TBC: GWS Giants v West Coast Eagles, ENGIE Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG (TBC)
TBC: North Melbourne v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Richmond v St Kilda, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
ROUND 24 – Floating Fixture
TBC: Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval (TBC)
TBC: Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, MCG (TBC)
TBC: Carlton v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Essendon v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Geelong Cats v Richmond, GMHBA Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (TBC)
TBC: St Kilda v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (TBC)
TBC: Sydney Swans v North Melbourne, SCG (TBC)
TBC: West Coast Eagles v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium (TBC
