AFL Opening Round: 2026 Toyota Premiership Season

Welcome to Opening Round of the 2026 AFL Toyota Premiership Season.

The round kicks off on Thursday night between Sydney Swans up against Carlton at the SCG.

Opening Round

Thursday, March 5
Sydney Swans vs Carlton - SCG - 7:30pm -
Friday, March 6
Gold Coast Suns vs Geelong Cats - People First Stadium - 8:05pm -
Saturday, March 7
GWS Giants vs Hawthorn - ENGIE Stadium - 4:15pm -
Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs - Gabba - 7:35pm -
Sunday, March 8
St Kilda vs Collingwood - MCG - 7:20pm -

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Television

Seven Network Fox Footy

Home: Australian Rules Football

AFL Ladder

Position - Club - Played - Points - %

See after opening round

AFL Ladder - afl.com.au

Radio

Broadcast Guide: afl.com.au

Official Merchandise

*Official Tickets*

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2026 AFL Season

The AFL will begin its season with 'Opening Round' (no number - zero), featuring five games.
Round 16-24 - floating fixture for the second half of the season.
The 2026 AFL Grand Final is on Saturday 26th September 2026.

2026 AFL Rounds

Fixture - Venue - Time - TV

Opening Round

Thursday, March 5
Sydney Swans vs Carlton - SCG - 7:30pm -
Friday, March 6
Gold Coast Suns vs Geelong Cats - People First Stadium - 8:05pm -
Saturday, March 7
GWS Giants vs Hawthorn - ENGIE Stadium - 4:15pm -
Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs - Gabba - 7:35pm -
Sunday, March 8
St Kilda vs Collingwood - MCG - 7:20pm -

*Official Tickets*

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Round 1

Thursday, March 12
Carlton vs Richmond - MCG - 7:30pm -
Friday, March 13
Essendon vs Hawthorn - MCG - 7:40pm -
Saturday, March 14
Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants - Marvel Stadium - 1:15pm -
Geelong Cats vs Fremantle - GMHBA Stadium - 4:15pm -
Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions - SCG - 7:10pm -
Collingwood vs Adelaide Crows - MCG - 7:35pm -
Sunday, March 15
North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide - Marvel Stadium - 1:10pm -
Melbourne vs St Kilda - MCG - 3:15pm -
Gold Coast Suns vs West Coast Eagles - People First Stadium - 6:10pm -

Round 2

Thursday, March 19
Hawthorn vs Sydney Swans - MCG - 7:30pm -
Friday, March 20
Adelaide Crows vs Western Bulldogs - Adelaide Oval - 7:40pm -
Saturday, March 21
Richmond vs Gold Coast Suns - MCG - 1:15pm -
GWS Giants vs St Kilda - ENGIE Stadium - 4:15pm -
Fremantle vs Melbourne - Optus Stadium - 7:35pm -
Sunday, March 22
Port Adelaide vs Essendon - Adelaide Oval - 3:15pm -
West Coast Eagles vs North Melbourne - Optus Stadium - 6:10pm -

Round 3

Thursday, March 26
Geelong Cats vs Adelaide Crows - GMHBA Stadium - 7:30pm -
Friday, March 27
Collingwood vs GWS Giants - Marvel Stadium - 7:40pm -
Saturday, March 28
St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions - Marvel Stadium - 12:35pm -
Fremantle vs Richmond - Optus Stadium - 4:15pm -
Essendon vs North Melbourne - Marvel Stadium - 7:35pm -
Sunday, March 29
Port Adelaide vs West Coast Eagles - Adelaide Oval - 12:30pm -
Carlton vs Melbourne - MCG - 3:15pm -

Round 4

Thursday, April 2
Brisbane Lions vs Collingwood - Gabba - 7:30pm -
Friday, April 3
North Melbourne vs Carlton - Marvel Stadium - 3:15pm -
Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle - Adelaide Oval - 7:15pm -
Saturday, April 4
Richmond vs Port Adelaide - MCG - 4:15pm -
West Coast Eagles vs Sydney Swans - OptusStadium - 7:35pm -
Sunday, April 5
Melbourne vs Gold Coast Suns - MCG - 3:15pm -
Western Bulldogs vs Essendon - Marvel Stadium - 7:20pm -
Monday, April 6
Hawthorn vs Geelong Cats - MCG - 3:15pm -

Round 5 (Gather Round)

Thursday, April 9
Adelaide Crows vs Carlton - Adelaide Oval - 7:40pm -
Friday, April 10
Collingwood vs Fremantle - Adelaide Oval - 7:40pm -
Saturday, April 11
North Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions - Barossa Park - 12:35pm -
Essendon vs Melbourne - Adelaide Oval - 1:15pm -
Sydney Swans vs Gold Coast Suns - Norwood Oval - 4:15pm -
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs - Adelaide Oval - 7:35pm -
Sunday, April 12
Geelong Cats vs West Coast Eagles - Norwood Oval - 12:30pm -
GWS Giants vs Richmond - Barossa Park - 3:15pm -
Port Adelaide vs St Kilda - Adelaide Oval - 7:15pm -

Round 6

Thursday, April 16
Carlton vs Collingwood - MCG - 7:30pm -
Friday, April 17
Geelong Cats vs Western Bulldogs - GMHBA Stadium - 7:20pm -
Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants - SCG - 7:50pm -
Saturday, April 18
Gold Coast Suns vs Essendon - People First Stadium - 1:15pm -
Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide - Marvel Stadium - 4:15pm -
Adelaide Crows vs St Kilda - Adelaide Oval - 7:35pm -
Sunday, April 19
North Melbourne vs Richmond - Marvel Stadium - 1:10pm -
Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions - MCG - 3:15pm -
West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle - Optus Stadium - 5:10pm -

Round 7 (Anzac Round)

Thursday, April 23
Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans - Marvel Stadium - 7:30pm -
Friday, April 24
Richmond vs Melbourne - MCG - 7:40pm -
Saturday, April 25
Hawthorn vs Gold Coast Suns - UTAS Stadium - 12:15pm -
Essendon vs Collingwood - MCG - 3:15pm -
Port Adelaide vs Geelong Cats - Adelaide Oval - 6:35pm -
Fremantle vs Carlton - Optus Stadium - 8:15pm -
Sunday, April 26
St Kilda vs West Coast Eagles - Marvel Stadium - 1:10pm -
Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide Crows - Gabba - 3:15pm -
GWS Giants vs North Melbourne - Manuka Oval - 4:40pm -

Round 8

Thursday, April 30
Collingwood vs Hawthorn - MCG - 7:30pm -
Friday, May 1
Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle - Marvel Stadium - 7:30pm -
Adelaide Crows vs Port Adelaide - Adelaide Oval - 8:10pm -
Saturday, May 2
Essendon vs Brisbane Lions - Marvel Stadium - 12:35pm -
West Coast Eagles vs Richmond - Optus Stadium - 4:15pm -
Geelong Cats vs North Melbourne - GMHBA Stadium - 4:35pm -
Carlton vs St Kilda - Marvel Stadium - 7:35pm -
Sunday, May 3
Sydney Swans vs Melbourne - SCG - 3:15pm -
Gold Coast Suns vs GWS Giants - People First Stadium - 7:20pm -

Round 9

Thursday, May 7
Fremantle vs Hawthorn - Optus Stadium - 8:10pm -
Friday, May 8
Brisbane Lions vs Carlton - Gabba - 7:30pm -
Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs - Adelaide Oval - 8:10pm -
Saturday, May 9
North Melbourne vs Sydney Swans - Marvel Stadium - 12:35pm -
GWS Giants vs Essendon - ENGIE Stadium - 4:15pm -
Gold Coast Suns vs St Kilda - TIO Stadium - 7:10pm -
Geelong Cats vs Collingwood - MCG - 7:35pm -
Sunday, May 10
Melbourne vs West Coast Eagles - MCG - 1:10pm -
Richmond vs Adelaide Crows - MCG - 3:15pm -

Round 10

Thursday, May 15
Gold Coast Suns vs Hawthorn - TIO Stadium - 7:30pm -
Friday, May 15
Sydney Swans vs Collingwood - SCG - 7:30pm -
Gold Coast Suns vs Port Adelaide - TIO Stadium - 8:10pm -
Saturday, May 16
Adelaide Crows vs North Melbourne - Adelaide Oval - 1:15pm -
Melbourne vs Hawthorn - MCG - 4:15pm -
Carlton vs Western Bulldogs - Marvel Stadium - 7:35pm -
Sunday, May 17
Essendon vs Fremantle - MCG - 1:10pm -
St Kilda vs Richmond - Marvel Stadium - 3:15pm -
West Coast Eagles vs GWS Giants - Optus Stadium - 6:15pm -

Round 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round)

Thursday, May 21
Hawthorn vs Adelaide Crows - UTAS Stadium - 7:30pm -
Friday, May 22
Richmond vs Essendon - MCG - 7:40pm -
Fremantle vs St Kilda - Optus Stadium - 8:30pm -
Saturday, May 23
North Melbourne vs Gold Coast Suns - Marvel Stadium - 1:15pm -
Geelong Cats vs Sydney Swans - GMHBA Stadium - 4:15pm -
Collingwood vs West Coast Eagles - MCG - 4:35pm -
Port Adelaide vs Carlton - Adelaide Oval - 7:35pm -
Sunday, May 24
GWS Giants vs Brisbane Lions - ENGIE Stadium - 12:30pm -
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne - Marvel Stadium - 3:20pm -

Round 12

Thursday, May 28
St Kilda vs Hawthorn - Marvel Stadium - 7:30pm -
Friday, May 29
Carlton vs Geelong Cats - MCG - 7:40pm -
Saturday, May 30
Sydney Swans vs Richmond - SCG - 1:15pm -
Brisbane Lions vs Fremantle - Gabba - 4:15pm -
Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood - Marvel Stadium - 7:35pm -
Sunday, May 31
Melbourne vs GWS Giants - TIO Traeger Park - 3:15pm -
West Coast Eagles vs Essendon - Optus Stadium - 7:20pm -

Round 13

Thursday, June 4
Adelaide Crows vs Geelong Cats - Adelaide Oval - 7:30pm -
Friday, June 5
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs - MCG - 7:40pm -
Saturday, June 6
North Melbourne vs Fremantle - Hands Oval, Bunbury - 2:15pm -
Gold Coast Suns vs Brisbane Lions - People First Stadium - 5:15pm -
West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide - Optus Stadium - 8:15pm -
Sunday, June 7
Sydney Swans vs St Kilda - SCG - 3:15pm -
Essendon vs Carlton - MCG - 7:20pm -
Monday, June 8
Collingwood vs Melbourne - MCG - 3:15pm -

Round 14

Thursday, June 11
Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows - Marvel Stadium - 7:30pm -
Friday, June 12
Geelong Cats vs Gold Coast Suns - GMHBA Stadium - 7:40pm -
Saturday, June 13
Melbourne vs Essendon - MCG - 1:15pm -
North Melbourne vs West Coast Eagles - Optus Stadium - 4:15pm -
Port Adelaide vs Sydney Swans - Adelaide Oval - 7:35pm -
Sunday, June 14
Richmond vs Brisbane Lions - Ninja Stadium - 1:10pm -
St Kilda vs GWS Giants - Marvel Stadium - 3:15pm -

Round 15

Thursday, June 18
Fremantle vs Geelong Cats - Optus Stadium - 8:10pm -
Friday, June 19
Gold Coast Suns vs Hawthorn - People First Stadium - 7:40pm -
Saturday, June 20
Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne - Adelaide Oval - 1:15pm -
GWS Giants vs Carlton - ENGIE Stadium - 4:15pm -
Collingwood vs Port Adelaide - MCG - 7:35pm -
Sunday, June 21
Richmond vs North Melbourne - MCG - 1:10pm -
St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs - Marvel Stadium - 3:15pm -

Round 16

Thursday, June 25- Sunday, June 28
Brisbane Lions vs Sydney Swans - Gabba - TBD - TBD
Carlton vs West Coast Eagles - Marvel Stadium
Collingwood vs Richmond - MCG
Hawthorn vs GWS Giants - MCG
North Melbourne vs Essendon - Marvel Stadium
Port Adelaide vs Adelaide Crows - Adelaide Oval
Fremantle vs Gold Coast Suns - Optus Stadium

Round 17

Thursday, July 2 - Sunday, July 5
Essendon vs St Kilda - Marvel Stadium - TBD - TBD
Geelong Cats vs Brisbane Lions - GMHBA Stadium
Gold Coast Suns vs Collingwood - People First Stadium
GWS Giants vs Fremantle - Manuka Oval
Hawthorn vs Melbourne - UTAS Stadium
Richmond vs Carlton - MCG
Sydney Swans vs Western Bulldogs - SCG
Port Adelaide vs North Melbourne - Adelaide Oval
West Coast Eagles vs Adelaide Crows - Optus Stadium

Round 18

Thursday, July 9 - Sunday, July 12
Brisbane Lions vs Essendon - Gabba - TBD - TBD
Carlton vs Hawthorn - MCG
Collingwood vs North Melbourne - Marvel Stadium
GWS Giants vs Geelong Cats - ENGIE Stadium
Melbourne vs Richmond - MCG
St Kilda vs Port Adelaide - Marvel Stadium
Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles - Marvel Stadium
Adelaide Crows vs Gold Coast Suns - Adelaide Oval
Fremantle vs Sydney Swans - Optus Stadium

Round 19

Thursday, July 16 - Sunday, July 19
Collingwood vs Carlton - MCG - TBD - TBD
Essendon vs GWS Giants - Marvel Stadium
Geelong Cats vs St Kilda - GMHBA Stadium
Gold Coast Suns vs Western Bulldogs - People First Stadium
North Melbourne vs Melbourne - Marvel Stadium
Richmond vs Hawthorn - MCG
Sydney Swans vs Adelaide Crows - SCG
Port Adelaide vs Fremantle - Adelaide Oval
West Coast Eagles vs Brisbane Lions - Optus Stadium

Round 20

Thursday, July 23 - Sunday, July 26
Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide - Gabba - TBD - TBD
Carlton vs Gold Coast Suns - Marvel Stadium
GWS Giants vs Sydney Swans - ENGIE Stadium
Hawthorn vs Essendon - MCG
North Melbourne vs St Kilda - Marvel Stadium
Melbourne vs Geelong Cats - MCG
Western Bulldogs vs Richmond - Marvel Stadium
Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood - Adelaide Oval
Fremantle vs West Coast Eagles - Adelaide Oval

Round 21

Thursday, July 30 - Sunday, Aug 2
Carlton vs Brisbane Lions - Marvel Stadium - TBD - TBD
Collingwood vs Geelong Cats - MCG
Essendon vs Adelaide Crows - Marvel Stadium
Gold Coast Suns vs Melbourne - People First Stadium
Hawthorn vs North Melbourne - UTAS Stadium
Richmond vs West Coast Eagles - MCG
St Kilda vs Sydney Swans - Marvel Stadium
Port Adelaide vs GWS Giants - Adelaide Oval
Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs - Optus Stadium

Round 22

Thursday, August 6 - Sunday, August 9
Brisbane Lions vs Hawthorn - Gabba - TBD - TBD
Geelong Cats vs Essendon - GMHBA Stadium
GWS Giants vs Gold Coast Suns - Manuka Oval
Melbourne vs Fremantle - MCG
St Kilda vs Carlton - Marvel Stadium
Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide - SCG
Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne - Marvel Stadium
Adelaide Crows vs Richmond - Adelaide Oval
West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood - Optus Stadium

Round 23

Thursday, August 13 - Sunday, August 16
Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast Suns - Gabba - TBD - TBD
Essendon vs Sydney Swans - MCG
GWS Giants vs West Coast Eagles - ENGIE Stadium
Hawthorn vs Collingwood - MCG
North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats - Marvel Stadium
Richmond vs St Kilda - MCG
Western Bulldogs vs Carlton - Marvel Stadium
Port Adelaide vs Melbourne - Adelaide Oval
Fremantle vs Adelaide Crows - Optus Stadium

Round 24

Thursday, August 20 - Sunday, August 23
Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions - MCG - TBD - TBD
Carlton vs Fremantle - Marvel Stadium
Essendon vs Port Adelaide - Marvel Stadium
Geelong Cats vs Richmond - GMHBA Stadium
Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs - MCG
St Kilda vs Gold Coast Suns - Marvel Stadium
Sydney Swans vs North Melbourne - SCG
Adelaide Crows vs GWS Giants - Adelaide Oval
West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn - Optus Stadium -

Official Merchandise

*Official Tickets*

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Grounds

Adelaide Oval


Accor Stadium


Blundstone Arena


Cazaly's Stadium


GIANTS Stadium


GMHBA Stadium


Heritage Bank Stadium (was Metricon)


Manuka Oval - Canberra


Mars Stadium - Ballarat


Marvel Stadium


Melbourne Cricket Ground


Coopers Stadium - Coopers Stadium


Optus Stadium


Summit Sport and Recreation Park


Sydney Cricket Ground


The Gabba


TIO Stadium - Darwin


TIO Traeger Park - Alice Aprings


UTAS - University of Tasmania Stadium

Coverage

Television

Seven Network Foxtel Kayo

Radio & Print

3AW Triple M SEN ABC

Quick AFL Links

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AFL Fixture - afl.com.au

AFL Ladder - afl.com.au

AFL Fantasy Football - afl.com.au

AFL News - afl.com.au

This Round

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