With the AFL locking in the fixture for the 2026 season, Geelong fans can start pencilling matches into their calendar in preparation for an exciting campaign.
There are a number of exciting games on the schedule next year, with 10 games at GMHBA Stadium and several interstate trips headlining the Cats’ fixture.
But there are also some matches that carry a little more weight, games that Geelong supporters will not want to miss throughout the year.
Take a look at five must watch games on the Cats’ 2026 schedule.
1. The Cats’ Home Opener
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Geelong v Fremantle
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Saturday 14th March
4.15pm AEDT
The Cats will make their Opening Round debut next year on the Gold Coast, but their home opener is set to be a spectacle in Round 1 at GMHBA Stadium.
For the second straight year, Geelong will host Fremantle in their first game at Kardinia Park, setting up a Saturday twilight blockbuster.
Another finalist in 2025, Fremantle has been on the improve and will be a team to watch next year, providing another strong test early in the season for the Cats.
In the corresponding fixture last year, Geelong rolled to a big victory on a scorching hot day at the Cattery, taking down the Dockers by 78 points on the back of a 10-goal final term.
2. An Easter Monday Battle
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Hawthorn v Geelong
MCG, Melbourne
Monday 6th April
3.15pm AEST
The Geelong and Hawthorn rivalry has started to heat up once again, with the foes set to go toe-to-toe in the traditional Easter Monday clash once again in 2026.
Set to be the Cats’ first game in Melbourne for the year, it will also mark the only time in the home-and-away season that Geelong and Hawthorn will square off next year.
The Cats have had the better of the battle recently, currently holding a five-game win streak over the Hawks which included two victories in the 2025 season, one a 30-point win in a Preliminary Final.
A match that always draws a big crowd and usually produces plenty of highlights, this Easter Monday will certainly be one to watch in 2026.
3. Geelong’s Home Game in Melbourne
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Geelong v Collingwood
MCG, Melbourne
Saturday 9th May
7.35pm AEST
The two teams produced one of the best games of the season in 2025, so expect another close battle when Geelong takes on Collingwood at the MCG in Round 9.
In brilliant news for the club, this match will also be the Cats’ lone home game in Melbourne for the 2026 home-and-away season.
The last five match-ups between Geelong and Collingwood have drawn a crowd of 73,000 or more, creating an incredible atmosphere that is unmissable in itself.
Most fans will remember last year’s clash, which came down to a kick after the siren, but none of the last seven matches between the Cats and Magpies have been decided by more than 22 points.
4. The Grand Final Rematch
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Brisbane v Geelong
Gabba, Brisbane
Thursday 14th May
7.30pm AEST
Quickly developing into an enthralling modern rivalry, the Cats will look to exact some revenge when they head to the Gabba to take on Brisbane in Round 10.
It will be the first of two meetings between the sides in 2026, with Geelong also set to host the Lions at GMHBA Stadium in Round 17 after their bye.
Both teams have had periods of success against one another recently, with the Cats winning seven of the last 13 matches against Brisbane dating back to 2020.
But Brisbane triumphed in the one that mattered last year, with Geelong looking to return the favour when they head north in Round 10.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 27: Chris Scott, Senior Coach of the Cats, Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats and Mark Blicavs of the Cats look on during the national anthem during the AFL Grand Final match between Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos)
5. A Friday Night Blockbuster at the Cattery
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Geelong v Gold Coast
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Friday 12th June
7.40pm AEST
Gold Coast have certainly been a team on the rise in recent years, providing another strong test for the Cats as they prepare to take on the Suns twice in 2026.
The second meeting will take place at the Cattery in a Friday night blockbuster, set to be an important mid-season clash for both teams.
Through the end of 2025, Geelong and Gold Coast have squared off eight times at GMHBA Stadium and the Cats have come out on top in all eight games, a streak they will want to continue next year.
The most recent clash occurred in Round 13, 2025 with Geelong clinching a 24-point win in difficult conditions.
