🔥 Trending AFL Finals 2026: Dates and Schedule

The 2026 Australian Football League (AFL) season, the 130th season of the competition, is scheduled to conclude with its finals series in late September and early October 2026.

Key Dates and System Changes

The 2026 AFL season will run from March 5 to September 26, 2026, comprising a 23-match home-and-away season over 25 rounds ¹. Following the regular season, a five-week finals series will determine the premier ¹.

A significant change for the 2026 season is the introduction of a new finals system. From 2026 onwards, the AFL will implement the "AFL final ten system," replacing the "AFL final eight system" that was in use between 2000 and 2025 ². This expansion means that more teams will have the opportunity to compete for the premiership in the post-season.

While specific dates for each individual finals match are typically announced closer to the end of the home-and-away season, the Grand Final, the culmination of the season, is confirmed to be held on September 26, 2026, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ¹⁶. The MCG is also slated to host a minimum of 47 fixtures in 2026, including the Grand Final ⁶.

Fans can find detailed fixtures, results, and ticketing information for all AFL games on official platforms such as AFL.com.au ⁴, ESPN ⁵, and Austadiums ³.