The 2026 AFL Finals Series is the biggest shake-up to the finals system in 25 years – the field has expanded from eight teams to ten, with a brand-new Wildcard Round opening the post-season. Fremantle claimed the minor premiership, the Wildcard Round is already in the books, and the road to the Grand Final on Saturday, September 26 at the MCG runs through five weekends of knockout football. Below you will find the full fixture, live results, the top-10 ladder, a plain-English guide to the new format, and a free printable bracket.
2026 AFL Finals: Quick Facts
| Teams in finals | 10 (expanded from 8) |
| Minor premiers | Fremantle (19–4) |
| Finals begin | Wildcard Round – Friday, August 28, 2026 |
| Grand Final | Saturday, September 26, 2026 – MCG |
| Format | Wildcard Round → Qualifying & Elimination Finals → Semi Finals → Preliminary Finals → Grand Final |
| Watch in the USA | Watch AFL (official international stream) |
How the New 2026 AFL Finals Format Works
2026 is the first change to the AFL finals system since 2000. Ten teams now qualify instead of eight, and the post-season runs across five weekends:
- Wildcard Round: The teams ranked 7th–10th play off – 7th hosts 10th and 8th hosts 9th. The two winners advance into the main finals bracket; the two losers are eliminated. Teams 1–6 have the week off.
- Week 1 – Qualifying & Elimination Finals: The top four earn a double chance. Qualifying Finals are 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd – winners go straight to a home Preliminary Final, while losers drop to a home Semi Final rather than being eliminated. Elimination Finals see 5th and 6th host the two Wildcard winners – winners advance, losers are out.
- Week 2 – Semi Finals: Each Qualifying Final loser hosts an Elimination Final winner. Winners advance; losers are eliminated.
- Week 3 – Preliminary Finals: Each Qualifying Final winner hosts a Semi Final winner. Winners book their place in the Grand Final.
- Grand Final: The two Preliminary Final winners meet at the MCG on September 26.
2026 AFL Final Ladder (Top 10 Seeds)
| Pos | Team | W–L–D | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremantle (minor premiers) | 19–4–0 | 137.2 |
| 2 | Sydney Swans | 18–5–0 | 136.1 |
| 3 | Brisbane Lions | 16–7–0 | 121.7 |
| 4 | Hawthorn | 15–6–2 | 120.1 |
| 5 | Geelong | 15–8–0 | 122.3 |
| 6 | Adelaide | 15–8–0 | 117.3 |
| 7 | Melbourne | 15–8–0 | 109.6 |
| 8 | Western Bulldogs | 13–9–1 | 95.4 |
| 9 | Collingwood | 12–9–2 | 102.4 |
| 10 | Carlton | 12–10–1 | 101.5 |
2026 AFL Finals Fixtures & Results
All times below are AEST, with US Eastern (ET) in brackets. Because of the 14-hour time difference, finals fall in the early-morning hours on the US East Coast.
Wildcard Round – Complete
| Date | Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 28 | Western Bulldogs (8) v Collingwood (9) | Bulldogs 96 def. Collingwood 93 (by 3 pts) | MCG |
| Sat, Aug 29 | Melbourne (7) v Carlton (10) | Carlton 74 def. Melbourne 55 (by 19 pts) | MCG |
Wildcard winners: Western Bulldogs and Carlton advance to the Elimination Finals. Collingwood and Melbourne are eliminated.
Week 1 – Qualifying & Elimination Finals
| Date (AEST / ET) | Final | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sep 3 – 8:10pm (6:10am ET) | Qualifying Final 1 | Fremantle (1) v Hawthorn (4) | Optus Stadium, Perth |
| Fri, Sep 4 – 7:40pm (5:40am ET) | Elimination Final 1 | Geelong (5) v Carlton | MCG |
| Sat, Sep 5 – 3:15pm (1:15am ET) | Qualifying Final 2 | Sydney (2) v Brisbane (3) | SCG, Sydney |
| Sat, Sep 5 – 7:35pm (5:35am ET) | Elimination Final 2 | Adelaide (6) v Western Bulldogs | Adelaide Oval |
Week 2 – Semi Finals & Week 3 – Preliminary Finals
Semi Finals (estimated Sept 10–12) and Preliminary Finals (estimated Sept 17–19) depend on the Week 1 results and will be confirmed once those games are played. Each Semi Final is hosted by a Qualifying Final loser against an Elimination Final winner; each Preliminary Final is hosted by a Qualifying Final winner. We will update this page and the printable bracket as the fixtures lock in.
Grand Final
Saturday, September 26, 2026 at the MCG. The two Preliminary Final winners meet for the premiership. Start time to be confirmed (traditionally an afternoon bounce, around 2:30pm AEST).
Printable 2026 AFL Finals Bracket (PDF)
Download our free printable 2026 AFL Finals bracket to track every path to the Grand Final. It maps the Wildcard Round, the Qualifying and Elimination Finals, the Semi Finals, Preliminary Finals and the Grand Final – with the confirmed fixtures and results filled in and blank slots for the games still to come. Print it, fill in the winners as the finals unfold, and follow your team's road to the MCG.
How to Watch the 2026 AFL Finals in the USA
American fans can stream every 2026 finals game, including the Grand Final, on Watch AFL – the league's official international subscription service (weekly, monthly and full-season passes available), which streams to phones, tablets and TVs via Chromecast, AirPlay and the Apple TV app. Keep the 14-hour time difference in mind: finals kick off in the early-morning hours on the US East Coast, roughly 1:00–6:15am ET.
2026 AFL Finals FAQ
How many teams make the 2026 AFL finals?
Ten – up from eight in 2025. The expansion added the new Wildcard Round for teams ranked 7th through 10th.
What is the AFL Wildcard Round?
An extra opening week of finals where 7th hosts 10th and 8th hosts 9th. The two winners join the main bracket as Elimination Final qualifiers; the two losers are knocked out. In 2026 the Western Bulldogs and Carlton won through.
What is the double chance?
The top four teams play Qualifying Finals. Even if they lose, they are not eliminated – they drop into a home Semi Final and get a second life. Winning a Qualifying Final earns a week off and a home Preliminary Final.
When is the 2026 AFL Grand Final?
Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
