When is the 2026 AFL Finals? Schedule, Dates, Times, How to watch

AFL finals 2026 fixture: schedule dates, times, bracket, How to watch live stream, scores, results.





The AFL finals provide the best quality football of the season, with the Top 10 best teams battling it out for a place in the Grand Final. 

With just one week left in the 2026 home-and-away season, 10 teams have confirmed their place in the AFL Finals Series.

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 2026 AFL Finals get underway in early September following the new 24-round regular home-and-away season that finishes up on AFL Grand Finale on Saturday the 26th Sept.


AFL Finals dates, 2026 Schedule.


Week Dates (Sat-Sun)

Wildcard weekend Aug. 29-30

Finals week one Sept. 5-6

Semi Finals Sept. 12-13

Preliminary Final Sept. 19-20

Grand Final Sept. 26


Where to watch 2026 AFL finals: Live streaming, Online TV channel



All finals will be broadcast live on Fox Footy as well as Seven. The Grand Final will be played live only on SEVEN.


All finals — except for the Grand Final — will be streamed on Kayo Sport. For the first time, the AFL Grand Final will be available to watch for free on 7plus across all devices.



AFL Finals 2026 schedule: Full Fixtures List, dates start-times, Scores, Results.



All Kick-Off times in AEST


AFL Finals 2026 Fixtures: Wildcard week schedule , scores, results


 Team Fixture Date Time (AEST) Venue

Wildcard 1 7th vs 10th TBC TBC TBC

Wildcard 2 8th vs 9th TBC TBC TBC



AFL Finals 2026 Fixtures, WEEK 1 schedule , scores, results




Team Fixture Date Time (AEST) Venue

Qualifying Final 1 Fremantle (1st) vs 4th TBC TBC Optus Stadium

Qualifying Final 2 Sydney (2nd) vs 3rd TBC TBC SCG

Elimination Final 1 5th vs TBC TBC TBC TBC

Elimination Final 2 6th vs TBC TBC TBC TBC



AFL Finals 2026 Fixtures, Semi-finals WEEK 2, scores, results



To be played September 13-14 - Details confirmed after Week 1 of AFL finals


Team 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



AFL Finals 2026 Fixtures, Preliminary Finals -WEEK 3 scores, results.



To be played September 20-21.


Team 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


When is the AFL Grand Final? schedule date, time, how to watch.



The AFL finals series starts on Thursday August 29, following the pre-finals bye week, which returns for 2026.

The 2026 AFL Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday September 26, remaining in its traditional slot of 2:30pm AEST at the MCG.

  • Who

  • Date: Saturday September 28.

  • Start time: 2:30pm AEST

  • Venue: MCG, Stadium in East Melbourne, Australia



List of recent AFL premiership winners: AFL Finals Champions of last 10 years



The Brisbane Lions are the reigning AFL premiers, having won back-to-back flags by defeating the Geelong Cats in 2025.


2027 —

2026 —

2025 — Brisbane Lions beat Geelong Cats

2024 — Brisbane Lions beat Sydney Swans

2023 — Collingwood beat Brisbane Lions

2022 — Geelong Cats bt Sydney Swans

2021 — Melbourne bt Western Bulldogs

2020 — Richmond bt Geelong

2019 — Richmond bt GWS Giants

2018 — West Coast bt Collingwood

2017 — Richmond bt Adelaide

2016 — Western Bulldogs bt Sydney Swans

2015 — Hawthorn bt West Coast

2014 — Hawthorn bt Sydney Swans 

2013 — Hawthorn bt Fremantle Dockers

2012 — Sydney Swans bt Hawthorn

2011 — Geelong bt Collingwood





How the AFL Finals System Works, AFL Finals Format.




The winners of the two qualifying finals advance to host the two preliminary finals, while two teams are eliminated each week until the Grand Final.

The loser of the First Qualifying Final (GWS Giants) hosts the winner of the First Elimination Final (Brisbane Lions) in the First Semi Final.

The loser of the Second Qualifying Final (Port Adelaide) hosts the winner of the Second Elimination Final (Hawthorn) in the Second Semi Final.

The winner of the First Qualifying Final (Sydney Swans) hosts the winner of the Second Semi Final (Port Adelaide) in the First Preliminary Final.

The winner of the Second Qualifying Final (Geelong) hosts the winner of the First Semi Final (Brisbane Lions) in the Second Preliminary Final.

The winners of the two Preliminary Finals face off in the 2024 AFL Grand Final.




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