2026 AFL fixture 23 Rounds loaded with Prime-times Thursday night games schedule, dates, kick-off, how to watch

The 2026 AFL season features a blockbuster run of Thursday night footy from Opening Round through Round 15, kicking off with the Sydney Swans hosting Carlton at the SCG on March 5.

Fans can expect a steady stream of marquee clashes, including Carlton vs. Collingwood in Round 6 at the MCG and Brisbane vs. Collingwood in Round 4 at the Gabba. The schedule highlights rivalries and prime-time matchups across the country, with Fremantle, Adelaide, and Hawthorn each featuring multiple times.

It’s a bold, fan-friendly fixture designed to keep footy under the lights every Thursday night leading into winter.

In the run to the finals, Thursday night games will be played on seven of nine weeks, allowing the league to create flexibility for finals contenders across the last two rounds of the season.

There were 14 Thursday night games in 2024, up from 12 in 2023 and nine in 2022. with the 23 round games was played in the 2025 AFL Fixtures.

But given the immense popularity of the timeslot among fans, the AFL will go hard on Thursday nights in 2025 in a signal for the future.

Full list of AFL 2026 Thursday night gams fixtures, dates, schedule, start-times.

Note: All times AEDT until Saturday April 4, then AEST from Sunday April 5 onwards.

OPENING ROUND - Thursday March 5 - Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG (7.30pm)

ROUND 1 - Thursday March 12 - Carlton v Richmond, MCG (7.30pm)

ROUND 2 - Thursday March 19 - Hawthorn v Sydney Swans, MCG (7.30pm)

ROUND 3 - Thursday March 26 - Geelong Cats v Adelaide Crows, GMHBA Stadium (7.30pm)

ROUND 4 - Thursday April 2 - Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, The Gabba (7.30pm)

ROUND 5 - Thursday April 9 - Adelaide Crows v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

ROUND 6 - Thursday April 16 - Carlton v Collingwood, MCG (7.30pm)

ROUND 7 - Thursday April 23 - Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

ROUND 8 - Thursday April 30 - Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG (7.30pm)

ROUND 9 - Thursday May 7 - Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium (7.30pm)

ROUND 10 - Thursday May 14 - Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats, The Gabba (7.30pm)

ROUND 11 - Thursday May 21 - Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, UTAS Stadium (7.30pm)

ROUND 12 - Thursday May 28 - St Kilda v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

ROUND 13 - Thursday June 4 - Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)

ROUND 14 - Thursday June 11 - Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

ROUND 15 - Thursday June 18 - Fremantle v Geelong Cats, Optus Stadium (7.30pm)

ROUND 16 - Thursday June 25 - Match TBC

ROUND 17 - Thursday July 2 - Match TBC

ROUND 18 - Thursday July 9 - Match TBC

ROUND 19 - Thursday July 16 - Match TBC

ROUND 20 - Thursday July 23 - Match TBC

ROUND 21 - Thursday July 30 - Match TBC

ROUND 22 - Thursday August 6 - Match TBC

ROUND 23 - Thursday August 13 - Match TBC

ROUND 24 - Thursday August 20 - Match TBC

AFL 2026 Team-By-Team Fixtures: Every Club Schedule.

Adelaide Crows Fixtures — Brisbane Lions Fixtures —

Carlton Blues Fixtures —  Collingwood Magpies Fixtures —

Essendon Bombers Fixtures — Fremantle Dockers Fixtures —

Geelong Cats Fixtures —  Gold Coast Suns Fixtures —

GWS Giants Fixtures —  Hawthorn Hawks Fixtures —

Melbourne Demons Fixtures —  North Melbourne Kangaroos Fixtures — Port Adelaide Power Fixtures —

Richmond Tigers Fixtures  —  St Kilda Saints Fixtures  — Sydney Swans Fixtures —

West Coast Eagles Fixtures — Western Bulldogs Fixtures —

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