The 2026 AFL finals are under way and the pressure is already on. Ten teams earned their place after 24 rounds of the home-and-away season, and the new expanded format means every game from here carries heavy consequences. The AFL finals fixture officially opened with Wildcard Weekend at the end of August and will finish under the lights at the MCG on the last Saturday in September.
This year’s AFL finals give more clubs a realistic shot while still rewarding the sides that finished higher on the ladder. Two wildcard matches start the series, followed by Qualifying and Elimination Finals, then Semi-Finals, Preliminary Finals and the Grand Final.
Key Dates for the Entire Series
Here’s the clean week-by-week look at the 2026 AFL finals fixture:
- Wildcard Weekend – August 28 to 30
- Finals Week 1 (Qualifying & Elimination Finals) – September 3 to 6
- Semi-Finals – September 12 to 14
- Preliminary Finals – September 19 to 21
- Grand Final – Saturday, September 26 at the MCG
All times below are in AEST unless stated otherwise.
Wildcard Weekend – What’s Already Happened
The opening night of the AFL finals delivered a classic. Eighth-placed Western Bulldogs hosted ninth-placed Collingwood at the MCG on Friday and held on for a 96-93 win in a tense finish.
Saturday night’s Wildcard Final One sees Melbourne take on Carlton at the same venue at 7:35pm. The winner keeps its season alive and moves into the Elimination Finals. The loser is done for 2026.
These two results shape the rest of the early draw, so every kick still matters.
Finals Week 1 – The Real Business Begins
The main part of the AFL finals schedule starts in early September.
Thursday, September 3
Qualifying Final 1: Fremantle vs Hawthorn
Optus Stadium – 8:10pm AEST
Friday, September 4
Elimination Final 1: Geelong vs the lowest-ranked wildcard winner
MCG – 7:40pm
Saturday, September 5
Qualifying Final 2: Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions
SCG – 3:15pm
Elimination Final 2: Adelaide vs the highest-ranked wildcard winner
Adelaide Oval – 7:35pm
The two Qualifying Final winners earn a week off and a home Preliminary Final. The losers drop into a Semi-Final but still get a second chance. Elimination Final losers go on holiday.
Semi-Finals and Preliminary Finals
Semi-Finals will be played on the weekend of September 12-14. Exact match-ups depend on the Week 1 results:
- Semi-Final 1: Loser of Qualifying Final 1 vs Winner of Elimination Final 1
- Semi-Final 2: Loser of Qualifying Final 2 vs Winner of Elimination Final 2
Preliminary Finals follow on September 19-21. Both Qualifying Final winners host the Semi-Final survivors. Only the two Preliminary Final winners advance to the Grand Final.
Grand Final Day
The 2026 AFL Grand Final is locked in for Saturday, September 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kick-off remains the traditional 2:30pm AEST. It is still the biggest day on the Australian sporting calendar and will again be played in front of a packed MCG.
How to Watch AFL Finals
Every match in the AFL finals will be shown live on Fox Footy and the Seven Network. All games except the Grand Final are also available on Kayo Sports. For the first time the Grand Final itself will be free on 7plus across phones, tablets and smart TVs as well as on Channel Seven.
How the Current Finals System Works
The ten-team system is straightforward once you get used to it. The top four play Qualifying Finals and keep a double chance. Teams from fifth down enter through the Elimination and Wildcard path. Two clubs are knocked out every week until only two remain for the last Saturday in September.
Recent history shows how quickly things can turn. Brisbane are the reigning back-to-back premiers after beating Geelong in 2025 and Sydney the year before. Collingwood, Geelong, Melbourne and Richmond have all lifted the cup in the seasons before that.
The 2026 AFL finals fixture is already producing tight, high-stakes football. With Wildcard Weekend almost complete and the full September schedule confirmed, fans now have a clear path from here to the Grand Final. Bookmark this page for updated scores, confirmed times and streaming details as each round finishes.
