2026 AFL Premiership Season at the MCG – full fixture revealed
The MCG will host its first game of the 2026 AFL Premiership Season in Opening Round before a massive four fixtures across Round 1 in what is set to be another huge football season at the ‘G.
As previously announced by the AFL, St Kilda will play a home game against Collingwood on Sunday March 8, with the league now confirming the traditional Thursday night Round 1 match between rivals Carlton and Richmond will take place on March 12.
Essendon and Hawthorn will once again play on the Friday night of Round 1 after attracting more than 80,000 fans to the ‘G in the first round of the 2025 AFL season.
Along with St Kilda, the Geelong Cats will call the MCG home for one game in 2026, taking on Collingwood under lights on Saturday May 9.
Reigning premiers, the Brisbane Lions, will return to the MCG for the first time since this year’s Grand Final in Round 6 to face Melbourne.
In the first 15 rounds, the MCG will host four Thursday night matches and five Friday night games.
Dates and times of fixtures from Rounds 16-24 will be confirmed in 2026.
MCG Fixture - 2026 AFL Premiership Season
Round 0 (Opening Round)
Sunday March 8, 7:20pm: St Kilda v Collingwood
Round 1
Thursday March 12, 7.30pm: Carlton v Richmond
Friday March 13, 7.40pm: Essendon v Hawthorn
Saturday March 14, 7.35pm: Collingwood v Adelaide Crows
Sunday March 15, 3.15pm: Melbourne v St Kilda
Round 2
Thursday March 19, 7.30pm: Hawthorn v Sydney Swans
Saturday March 21, 1.15pm: Richmond v Gold Coast SUNS
Round 3
Sunday March 29, 3.15pm: Carlton v Melbourne
Round 4
Saturday April 4, 4.15pm: Richmond v Port Adelaide
Sunday April 5, 3.15pm: Melbourne v Gold Coast SUNS
Monday April 6, 3.15pm: Hawthorn v Geelong Cats
Round 5 (Gather Round in Adelaide)
Round 6
Thursday April 16, 7.30pm: Carlton v Collingwood
Sunday April 19, 3.15pm: Melbourne v Brisbane Lions
Round 7
Friday April 24, 7.40pm: Richmond v Melbourne
Saturday April 25, 3.15pm: Essendon v Collingwood
Round 8
Thursday April 30, 7.30pm: Collingwood v Hawthorn
Round 9
Saturday May 9, 7.35pm: Geelong Cats v Collingwood
Sunday May 10, 3.15pm: Richmond v Adelaide Crows
Round 10
Saturday May 16, 4.15pm: Melbourne v Hawthorn
Sunday May 17, 1.10pm: Essendon v Fremantle
Round 11
Friday May 22, 7.40pm: Richmond v Essendon
Saturday May 23, 4.35pm: Collingwood v West Coast Eagles
Round 12
Friday May 29, 7.40pm: Carlton v Geelong Cats
Round 13
Friday June 5, 7.40pm: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
Sunday June 7, 7.20pm: Essendon v Carlton
Monday June 8, 3.15pm: Collingwood v Melbourne
Round 14
Saturday June 13, 1.15pm: Melbourne v Essendon
Round 15
Saturday June 20, 7.35pm: Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Sunday June 21, 1.10pm: Richmond v North Melbourne
Note: Dates and times of fixtures from Rounds 16-24 below will be confirmed in 2026.
Round 16
Hawthorn v GWS GIANTS
Collingwood v Richmond
Round 17
Richmond v Carlton
Round 18
Melbourne v Richmond
Carlton v Hawthorn
Round 19
Collingwood v Carlton
Richmond v Hawthorn
Round 20
Hawthorn v Essendon
Melbourne v Geelong Cats
Round 21
Richmond v West Coast Eagles
Collingwood v Geelong Cats
Round 22
Melbourne v Fremantle
Round 23
Richmond v St Kilda
Essendon v Sydney Swans
Hawthorn v Collingwood
Round 24
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
