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The AFL has released the fixture for the 2026 season, with all details up until Round 16 confirmed
The AFL has released the fixture for the 2026 AFL Premiership Season, with Geelong set to feature in a number of marquee games throughout what is set to be a blockbuster season.
The Cats kick-off their season with a Friday night clash against the Gold Coast Suns at People First Stadium on the 6 March as part of the AFL’s Opening Round.
Geelong’s first home game will be the following week in a twilight match up against Fremantle in Round 1, the first of 10 home games at GMHBA Stadium for the Cats in 2026.
Five Victorian teams and five interstate teams will travel to Geelong to play the Cats, with the Bulldogs, Bombers, Tigers, Saints, minor premiers Adelaide and Grand Final opponents Brisbane all featuring at GMHBA Stadium in 2026.
Geelong’s MCG home game will be a Saturday night blockbuster against Collingwood in Round 9. The match will be one of six games in Melbourne across the year, with the Cats to play five games at the MCG and one at Marvel Stadium.
From a football perspective, the Cats will play four of the Top 6 teams from this season twice (Brisbane, Collingwood, Adelaide, Fremantle), and will hit the road for seven interstate trips giving fans across the country a chance to see their team in action.
Round 7 will see the Cats play on ANZAC Day for the first time since 2008, heading to Adelaide Oval for a Saturday night clash with Port Adelaide.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round will be held over Rounds 10 and 11, with Geelong to play Brisbane at the GABBA and Sydney at GMHBA Stadium in those two weeks.
With a mix of family-friendly and primetime TV slots, the Cats will play nine games which will be broadcast on free-to-air television (Channel 7) in the first 16 rounds.
Geelong will also have two byes, in Round 2 and Round 16. Geelong Cats Chief Operating Officer Marcus King welcomed the Cats’ 2026 Fixture.
“We’re excited for the 2026 AFL season, and there is a lot to look forward to for our members and fans, starting with a big Opening Round clash against the Gold Coast Suns,” King said.
“A strong home game fixture is always important to us and we’re pleased for the second consecutive year to host 10 games at GMHBA Stadium with a strong mix of opponents and a healthy balance of timeslots.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 03: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats marks infront of Brayden Maynard of the Magpies during the round eight AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on May 03, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images via AFL Photos)
“We also are pleased to have six games in Melbourne, including a blockbuster home game against Collingwood at the MCG, for our members and fans in Melbourne.
“We look forward to the challenge of the Fixture from a football perspective, playing four of the top six teams twice, and featuring in a number of marquee games, including nine primetime free to air tv matches for our members and fans across the country and providing national exposure for our Club and partners.
“The Fixture will also give our Geelong fans right across the country the chance to see their team live in action as we prepare to travel to Adelaide three times, along with trips to the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth,” King said.
The timeslots for Rounds 17-24 will be confirmed by the AFL during the season next year.
Geelong Cats 2026 AFL Fixture Snapshot
- Opening Round v Gold Coast Suns, People First Stadium – Friday 6 March
- 10 home games at GMHBA Stadium, against Brisbane, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Essendon, Richmond, Gold Coast, Sydney, St Kilda and North Melbourne
- Six games in Melbourne, including a home game in Round 9 at the MCG against Collingwood. Others include MCG games against Hawthorn on Easter Monday, Carlton Round 12 and a trip to Marvel Stadium in Round 23 against North Melbourne
- Geelong to play four of the top six teams from 2025 twice including Adelaide (Round 3 & Round 13), Brisbane (Round 10 & Round 17), Collingwood (Round 9 & Round 21), Fremantle (Round 1 & Round 15)
- Gather Round v West Coast Eagles, Norwood Oval – Sunday 12 April, 12pm local time.
- Seven interstate trips: Gold Coast (Opening Round), West Coast (Gather Round), Port Adelaide (Round 7), Brisbane (Round 10), Adelaide (Round 13), Fremantle (Round 15) and GWS Giants (Round 18)
- Sir Doug Nicholls Round matches against Brisbane at the GABBA in Round 10 and Sydney at GMHBA Stadium in Round 11
- Four Thursday night games and four Friday night games in opening 15 rounds
- Nine free to air games on Channel 7 in the first 15 rounds
- Two byes which will take place in Round 2 and Round 16
Geelong Cats 2026 AFL Fixture – Up to Round 16
Round
Opponent
Venue
Date & Time
(All Local Times)
Opening Round
Gold Coast Suns
People First Stadium,
Gold Coast
Friday March 6,
7.05pm
Round 1
Fremantle
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Saturday March 14,
4.15pm
Round 2
BYE
Round 3
Adelaide
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Thursday March 26,
7.30pm
Round 4
Hawthorn
MCG,
Melbourne
Monday April 6,
3.15pm
Round 5
West Coast Eagles
Norwood Oval,
Adelaide
Sunday April 12,
12.00pm
Round 6
Western Bulldogs
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Friday April 17,
7.20pm
Round 7
Port Adelaide
Adelaide Oval,
Adelaide
Saturday April 25,
6.05pm
Round 8
North Melbourne
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Saturday May 2,
4.35pm
Round 9
Collingwood
MCG,
Melbourne
Saturday May 9,
7.35pm
Round 10
Brisbane
Gabba,
Brisbane
Thursday May 14,
7.30pm
Round 11
Sydney
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Saturday May 23,
4.15pm
Round 12
Carlton
MCG,
Melbourne
Friday May 29,
7.40pm
Round 13
Adelaide
Adelaide Oval,
Adelaide
Thursday June 4,
7.00pm
Round 14
Gold Coast Suns
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Friday June 12,
7.40pm
Round 15
Fremantle
Optus Stadium,
Perth
Thursday June 18,
6.10pm
Round 16
BYE
Geelong’s Fixture – Round 17-24 (Details to be confirmed)
Round
Opponent
Venue
Round 17
Brisbane
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Round 18
GWS Giants
ENGIE Stadium,
Sydney
Round 19
St Kilda
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Round 20
Melbourne
MCG,
Melbourne
Round 21
Collingwood
MCG,
Melbourne
Round 22
Essendon
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
Round 23
North Melbourne
Marvel Stadium,
Melbourne
Round 24
Richmond
GMHBA Stadium,
Geelong
