AFL Fixture 2026 pdf is one of Australia’s most popular sports competitions. Every year, fans look forward to the release of the official schedule, known as the fixture, to find out exactly when and where their favorite teams will play.
The upcoming 2026 season will feature matches spread across weekends and weeknights, giving fans plenty of opportunities to watch the games either at the stadiums or on television.
Key Tournament Details
| Feature | Description |
| League Name | 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season |
| Start Date | March 5, 2026 |
| Format | 24 regular season rounds followed by a Finals Series |
| Total Teams | 18 professional clubs |
| Locations | Major stadiums across Australia |
Opening Round Schedule
The first week of the season sets the tone for the competition with several highly anticipated matches.
| Date | Match | Venue / Time |
| Thursday, March 5 | Sydney Swans vs. Carlton | Sydney Cricket Ground (Night) |
| Friday, March 6 | Gold Coast Suns vs. Geelong Cats | People First Stadium (Night) |
| Saturday, March 7 | GWS Giants vs. Hawthorn | To be confirmed |
| Saturday, March 7 | Brisbane Lions vs. Western Bulldogs | To be confirmed |
| Sunday, March 8 | St Kilda vs. Collingwood | To be confirmed |
The 18 Competing Teams
Each of the 18 clubs represents a different region in Australia and will compete to earn enough points during the regular season to make it into the playoffs.
- Adelaide Crows
- Brisbane Lions
- Carlton
- Collingwood
- Essendon
- Fremantle
- Geelong Cats
- Gold Coast Suns
- GWS Giants
- Hawthorn
- Melbourne
- North Melbourne
- Port Adelaide
- Richmond
- St Kilda
- Sydney Swans
- West Coast Eagles
- Western Bulldogs
How the AFL Points System Works
During the regular season, teams earn points based on the outcome of their matches. These points determine their position on the official league ladder (the standings).
- Win: 4 points
- Draw: 2 points
- Loss: 0 points
The Tie-Breaker: Percentage Because there are 18 teams playing many games, it is very common for two or more teams to finish the season with the exact same number of points. To break the tie, the AFL uses a system called “Percentage.”
Percentage measures how dominant a team has been. It is calculated by taking the total points a team has scored across the entire season, dividing it by the total points their opponents have scored against them, and then multiplying by 100. A higher percentage means the team is better at outscoring its opponents, which places them higher on the ladder.
