AFL finals fixture 2026 | AFL finals bracket, schedule, dates, times and venues, 10-team wildcard finals explained, when is the Grand Final

For the first time in history, we’re in the midst of a 10-team AFL finals series, with Hawthorn and Sydney shockingly both earning home preliminary finals.

It leaves pre-finals premiership favourites Fremantle and Brisbane both staring down a potential straight sets exits, against Geelong and Adelaide respectively.

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See the 2026 AFL finals fixture, plus see how the AFL finals system works below.

AFL 2026 FINALS FIXTURE (All times AEST)

WEEK 1 – WILDCARD FINALS – AUGUST 28-29

Second Wildcard Final

Western Bulldogs [8th] def Collingwood [9th] 96-93 at the MCG

First Wildcard Final

Carlton [10th] def Melbourne [7th] 74-55 at the MCG

WEEK 2 – QUALIFYING AND ELIMINATION FINALS – SEPTEMBER 3-5

First Qualifying Final

Hawthorn [4th] def Fremantle [1st] 72-40 at Optus Stadium

First Elimination Final

Geelong [5th] def Carlton [10th] 107-74 at the MCG

Second Qualifying Final

Sydney Swans [2nd] def Brisbane Lions [3rd] 141-88 at the SCG

Second Elimination Final

Adelaide Crows [6th] def Western Bulldogs [8th] 90-68 at Adelaide Oval

WEEK 3 – SEMI FINALS – SEPTEMBER 11-12

First Semi Final

Fremantle (First Qualifying Final loser) vs Geelong (First Elimination Final winner) – Friday September 11, 8:10pm at Optus Stadium

Second Semi Final

Brisbane Lions (Second Qualifying Final loser) vs Adelaide (Second Elimination Final winner) – Saturday September 12, 7:35pm at the Gabba

WEEK 4 – PRELIMINARY FINALS – SEPTEMBER 18-19

First Preliminary Final

Hawthorn (First Qualifying Final winner) vs Second Semi Final winner [Brisbane Lions or Adelaide Crows] – time and date TBC (likely Saturday twilight) at MCG

Second Preliminary Final

Sydney Swans (Second Qualifying Final winner) vs First Semi Final winner [Fremantle or Geelong] – time and date TBC (likely Friday night) at the SCG

AFL GRAND FINAL 2026

Winner of First Preliminary Final vs Winner of Second Preliminary Final

Saturday September 26, 2:30pm at the MCG

WHEN IS THE AFL GRAND FINAL?

The AFL finals series got underway on Friday August 28, with the first ever wildcard final, held during what used to be the pre-finals bye week.

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

HOW THE AFL FINALS SYSTEM WORKS

Two teams are eliminated each week until the Grand Final.

The AFL expanded the finals to 10 teams in 2026, meaning the post-season will last for five weeks.

In week one, the wildcard round sees the winners of the First Wildcard Final (7th vs 10th) and Second Wildcard Final (8th vs 9th) advance into the traditional eight-team bracket.

From there, the winners of the two qualifying finals advance to host the two preliminary finals, each getting a week off, while the qualifying final losers each host an elimination final winner.

The loser of the First Qualifying Final (1st vs 4th) hosts the winner of the First Elimination Final (5th vs Lowest Ranked Wildcard winner, ie 8th, 9th or 10th) in the First Semi Final.

The loser of the Second Qualifying Final (2nd vs 3rd) hosts the winner of the Second Elimination Final (6th vs Highest Ranked Wildcard winner, ie 7th, 8th or 9th) in the Second Semi Final.

The winner of the First Qualifying Final (1st vs 4th) hosts the winner of the Second Semi Final (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th) in the First Preliminary Final.

The winner of the Second Qualifying Final (2nd vs 3rd) hosts the winner of the First Semi Final (1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th or 10th) in the Second Preliminary Final.

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