AFL fixture 2026: Anzac Day clashes, Gather Round fixture revealed
For the first time since 2020, Anzac Day will fall on a Saturday next year — and the AFL has a packed schedule of footy in store. See all the match-ups, plus more fixture whispers here.
The AFL has scheduled four games on Anzac Day next year – including the traditional Essendon – Collingwood blockbuster – which falls on a Saturday in round seven.
Games will be played in four states to help pay tribute to the Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women who have served and died in military operations.
Code Sports can reveal Hawthorn will host Gold Coast in Launceston, Port Adelaide take on Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval and Fremantle will lock horns with Carlton in the traditional Len Hall game in the west on April 25.
The match could put new Blues’ ruckman Liam Reidy in-line to play his first match against his former Fremantle teammates, although the 25-year-old is expected to be a back-up to Marc Pittonet.
The Essendon versus Collingwood blockbuster is one of the highlights on the football calendar and will kick off about 3pm in front of a full MCG.
As per the broadcast deal, the Bombers-Magpies’ clash will be broadcast on Fox Footy and Channel 7 live despite Fox Footy’s exclusive ‘Super Saturday’ rights which will continue in 2026.
The Saturday Anzac Day schedule, which is the first one to fall on a Saturday since 2020, means there will be about 12 hours of AFL coverage across the day and night on Fox Footy.
The Essendon – Collingwood battle will follow the Hawthorn and Gold Coast tussle, which will likely be the first match played in the early afternoon.
It means there will be a lead-in game starting shortly after midday before Brad Scott’s men take on the Magpies in the marquee match from about 3pm.
However, the AFL’s fixture boss Josh Bowler was still considering slight changes on Wednesday ahead of the official 2026 fixture launch on Thursday.
The Power-Cats clash could be a twilight fixture, and the Fremantle-Carlton game a night match.
Richmond will host Melbourne in the traditional Anzac eve game at the MCG on Friday night which should also draw a bumper crowd.
Essendon will be aiming for its first Anzac Day win over Collingwood since former coach Ben Rutten led the Bombers to victory in 2021 when the red and black last played finals.
MORE WHISPERS: DONS TO HOST DRAPER’S LIONS, GF REMATCH LOCKED IN
In round eight, the Bombers are tipped to face-off against former ruckman Sam Draper when they take on reigning premier Brisbane Lions in Melbourne.
Draper quit the Bombers last year as an unrestricted free agent and will lead the Lions’ ruck division at his new home.
Jordan Ridley also met the Lions about a fresh start after repeated injury setbacks but opted to remain in red black.
Two weeks later in round 10, the Brisbane Lions will host Geelong in the grand final rematch.
The two sides will meet at the Gabba on a Thursday night on May 14.
The Swans host the Lions at the SCG on Saturday night in round one.
GATHER ROUND SLATE REVEALED
Collingwood will face Fremantle on a blockbuster Friday night during Gather Round.
The AFL released the full fixture for its marquee weekend in Adelaide which sees the Dockers and Pies clash at Adelaide Oval in the primetime slot ahead of a bumper weekend.
Charlie Curnow’s Swans will take on Christian Petracca’s Suns at Norwood Oval on the Saturday while Brisbane again misses out on an Adelaide Oval slot, instead will face North Melbourne in the Barossa.
The two South Australian clubs will open and close Gather Round for a second-straight year.
Adelaide will maintain its status as the Gather Round opener, while after the success of having Port Adelaide and Hawthorn end this year’s edition the Power will close the 2026 festival of footy on a Sunday night.
But the AFL has not decided to do what it did in 2025 and schedule a grudge match with one of the SA teams and a big Victorian club for the 2026 edition.
The Crows will take on Carlton in the Thursday night opener at 7.10pm on April 9, in a rematch of the first Gather Round in 2023.
On that occasion the Crows thumped the Blues with their forward line firing.
The AFL has resisted scheduling the Crows’ clash with Collingwood for the weekend where all teams are in South Australia despite the success it had with the Port Adelaide and Hawthorn grudge match ending this year’s Gather Round.
The Power will wrap up the 2026 Gather Round by taking on a St Kilda side that has been one of the most interesting sides to watch this off-season with the Saints going on a recruiting spree.
That will be on Sunday, April 12 at 6.30pm, in the first weekend of school holidays.
South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas said both clashes involving the Crows and Power would be marquee clashes of the 2026 Gather Round.
“Having the Crows and Port bookend a spectacular Gather Round fixture across the first weekend of school holidays makes perfect sense,” he said.
“These games will be massive.
“The Blues bring with them a fierce and substantial travelling fan base, while the Saints are on the move after an eventful off-season.
“Once again, we expect tickets to be in hot demand.”
The 2026 edition will be the last Gather Round under the current contract between the SA Government and the AFL.
While other states have said they are keen to lure Gather Round out of SA, Mr Malinauskas has said he is determined to keep it in the state - saying it would not work the same anywhere else.
Economic impact statements have revealed over $90 million in benefits for SA from hosting Gather Round.
ANOTHER FRIDAY NIGHT SYDNEY DERBY LOOMS
- Lachlan McKirdy
The intense rivalry between the Swans and Giants is set to be rewarded with the SCG to host its first Friday night Sydney Derby during the 2026 AFL fixture.
Over the past few seasons, clashes between Sydney and GWS have become must-watch viewing. Whether it’s the verbal stoush between Toby Greene and Tom Papley, or the incredible 2024 elimination final at the SCG, it’s clear the rivalry has not been manufactured and has become genuinely heated on the field.
As a result, the first match between the two sides in 2026 is set to be a Friday night game at the SCG.
In round six, the Sydney Derby will take place on Friday, April 17, with the game starting at 7.50pm. Across the 13-year history of the Sydney Derby, the SCG has only ever previously hosted the clash on Saturday or Sunday.
However, it still won’t be a stand-alone prime time fixture. Similar to the 2024 match between the two teams at Engie Stadium, the clash will be the second of two matches as part of a Friday night double-header.
The return Sydney Derby will take place in round 20 at Engie Stadium, with the exact date to be confirmed during 2026.
The Swans will also host their annual Marn Grook game in round 10 at the SCG. However, they will be on the lookout for a new opponent as they’re set to welcome Carlton to the SCG for the first game of the season in Opening Round.
Sydney is also likely to travel to Melbourne to take on the Blues for the first time during the season since 2022, with the AFL hoping to capitalise on the potential grudge match as Charlie Curnow, Will Hayward and Ollie Florent all take on their former sides.
Clayton Oliver will also be made to wait for his first showdown against the Dees, with the three-time All-Australian set to come up against Melbourne for the first time in round 12 at the MCG.
AFL MAKE CALL ON BALLARAT GAMES
- Exclusive
The AFL has postponed the Western Bulldogs’ two Ballarat home games next season due to the ongoing construction works at Mars Stadium.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Bulldogs men’s team will not play home games at Ballarat next year and will instead play two matches in 2027 and ‘28 at their second home base.
The AFL has decided to shift the matches at Ballarat for next season due to the current stadium construction works which cap the capacity at about 5000.
Broadcasters were also keen to shift the games due to the unsightly works and crowd cap.
But the AFL has attempted to compensate to some degree by scheduling three pre-season games at Ballarat in March next year.
The Bulldogs’ AFLW team will also continue to play games at Mars Stadium next year.
But the Ballarat fans won’t lose out as the two-game-per-year contract, which originally expired at the end of 2027, will be extended by one season to the end of 2028 due to the postponement.
It means the two games Ballarat will miss out on next season will be played in 2028, instead.
Despite the postponement, the Dogs want to maintain the club’s strong connection with the regional venue and local fan base, starting with a community camp there in early December.
The Bulldogs played one home game at Ballarat in 2025 in Round 8, destroying Port Adelaide by 90 points in front of 4814 fans.
But the Round 18 clash against Adelaide (originally scheduled at Ballarat) was shifted to Marvel Stadium which eventually attracted 41,198 fans.
The Crows took advantage of the switch, winning the match by 11 points at the indoor venue as spearhead Riley Thilthorpe booted six goals.
The AFL will confirm the switch in Thursday’s 2026 fixture release.
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Originally published as AFL fixture 2026: Anzac Day clashes, Gather Round fixture revealed
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