Gather Round 2026 Fixture Revealed: Crows to Open as ‘Juggernaut’ Event Faces Contract Uncertainty

The AFL’s popular Gather Round is officially set to return to South Australia in 2026, with the full fixture released today confirming the event’s key venues and marquee matchups. However, despite its success, the long-term commitment for the event to remain in the state is still pending.

The 2026 Fixture Highlights:

Adelaide Oval remains the central hub, hosting the two bookend matches:

• Thursday Night Opener: Adelaide Crows vs. Carlton
• Friday Night Blockbuster: Collingwood vs. Fremantle
• Sunday Night Closer: Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda

The event will again showcase regional South Australia, with two games scheduled for the Barossa Valley (North Melbourne vs. Brisbane and Greater Western Sydney vs. Richmond) and two at Norwood Oval (Sydney vs. Gold Coast and Geelong vs. West Coast). Notably, Mount Barker has once again been excluded from the hosting rotation.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged the event’s massive impact on the state’s economy, which last year delivered nearly $114 million in economic benefits.

“We’ve seen Gather Round start from an experiment, and turn into a juggernaut, and has a momentum that seems hard to stop,” Malinauskas said.

The anticipated influx of tourists has prompted major investment, including a $23 million renovation underway at Adelaide’s Mayfair Hotel to cater for the high occupancy rates the round brings.

Tickets for the 2026 event go on sale for AFL members on December 3, with general public sales beginning the following day.