AFL
With just one week left in the 2026 home-and-away season, 10 teams have confirmed their place in the AFL Finals Series.
Read more Horse Racing
The action kicks off with the new addition, wildcard weekend, currently scheduled for the last weekend of August.
It will finish at the hallowed turf of the MCG, on the last Saturday of September.
The grand final’s traditional 2.30pm (AEST) bounce is continuing for the 2026 and 27 seasons.
Read more NRL
WATCH:
AFL Finals LIVE on Kayo
Here’s all the key dates ahead of this year’s AFL finals:
MORE: All the latest AFL injury news
AFL Finals schedule, dates
2026 AFL Finals dates
| Week | Dates (Sat-Sun) |
| Wildcard weekend | Aug. 29-30 |
| Finals week one | Sept. 5-6 |
| Semi Finals | Sept. 12-13 |
| Prelimnary Final | Sept. 19-20 |
| Grand Final | Sept. 26 |
Stream AFL Finals LIVE on Kayo
Get your first month for $1. New customers only.
Join Now
AFL Finals fixture 2026
Wildcard Weekend
| Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue | |
| Wildcard 1 | 7th vs 10th | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Wildcard 2 | 8th vs 9th | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Week one
| Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue | |
| Qualifying Final 1 | Fremantle vs TBC | TBC | TBC | Optus Stadium |
| Qualifying Final 2 | Sydney vs TBC | TBC | TBC | SCG |
| Elimination Final 1 | 5th vs TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Elimination Final 2 | 6th vs TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Semi Finals
| Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue | |
| Semi Final 1 | Loser QF1 vs Winner EF1 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Semi Final 2 | Loser QF2 vs Winner EF2 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Preliminary Finals
| Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue | |
| Preliminary Final 1 | Winner QF1 vs Winner SF2 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Preliminary Final 2 | Winner QF2 vs Winner SF1 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Grand Final
| Match | Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue |
| Grand Final | Winner PF1 vs Winner PF2 | Sat. Sep 26 | 2.30pm | MCG |
AFL Finals system format, structure
For the first time since 2000, the AFL made a change to its finals system.
The league announced the inclusion of ninth and tenth, via the introduction of wildcard weekend, scheduled for the bye weekend of years gone by.
Seventh faces tenth and eighth plays ninth, before the winners advance into the traditional top eight, with fifth facing the lowest ranked winner, and sixth facing the highest.
The finals then continue as years previous, with higher-placed teams are given a «double chance» should they lose in the first, now technically the second, week of the finals.
Comments