Mars Stadium in Ballarat will host three AAMI AFL Community Series games in 2026
A general view of Mars Stadium before the match between the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast in round two, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos
BALLARAT will welcome AFL action in February, with Mars Stadium set to host three pre-season games during the 2026 AAMI AFL Community Series.
The match-ups and timeslots for the three games will be confirmed when the full fixture for the 2026 AAMI AFL Community Series is released next month.
The three pre-season games are part of the ongoing collaboration between the AFL, Western Bulldogs and Visit Victoria to ensure Ballarat remains a key venue for elite football during the redevelopment of Mars Stadium. This follows the relocation of the Western Bulldogs’ round 18 game against the Adelaide Crows from Mars Stadium to Marvel Stadium earlier this year due to the redevelopment works.
Under a revised arrangement, the two Western Bulldogs’ premiership season games originally planned for Ballarat in 2026 will now be relocated to Marvel Stadium to allow for greater crowd capacity while the works continue.
Once the Mars Stadium redevelopment is complete, these two games will return to Ballarat in 2028. Two Western Bulldogs’ premiership season games are already planned for Ballarat in 2027 and remain unaffected by the redevelopment.
AFL Head of Strategy and Scheduling Josh Bowler said the decision would give more fans the opportunity to support the Bulldogs live during the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season while ensuring Ballarat continues to host elite football.
“With capacity at Mars Stadium currently restricted, we have worked closely with the Western Bulldogs and Visit Victoria to relocate the club’s two Ballarat games in 2026 to Marvel Stadium,” Bowler said.
“This means more members and supporters will be able to enjoy the action of the home-and-away season at a larger venue, while Ballarat fans can still look forward to three exciting pre-season games in their backyard in February.
“The 2026 AAMI AFL Community Series will showcase a variety of clubs and continue to bring elite football to the region as we prepare for an upgraded Mars Stadium in the years ahead.”
The Western Bulldogs have played AFL games at Mars Stadium since 2017 through the club’s partnership with Visit Victoria and the City of Ballarat.
Since 2022, the Bulldogs have also hosted AFLW games at Mars Stadium, with their 2026 and 2027 AFLW games at the venue to proceed as planned.
The Bulldogs will also head to Ballarat for the AFL’s annual community camp program in early December.
Further information for Western Bulldogs members with Ballarat access will be provided by the club.
