AFL 2026 Updates & Changes
Well, the 2025 season has been and gone. We'll be reminiscing about that one for a while! But what we footy fans are really excited to see is where the teams will go from here now 2025 has wrapped up. One thing can be certain: they'll all be hard at work behind the scenes honing their lineups and strategies as we speak.
There have already been more than a few surprising shake-ups since the end of AFL 2025. These are the AFL updates and changes that'll be sure to make the biggest waves in 2026:
Reintroducing State of Origin Footy in 2026
Long-time Australian Rules Football fans will be missing State of Origin footy, for sure. No competition fires up as much pride and passion as Origin - even classic club football.
The good news is, the AFL is bringing State of Origin football back after an incredible 27-year hiatus! Strap in as Western Australia takes on Victoria at Optus Stadium in Perth on February 14th. The match promises to draw in huge in-person and online crowds.
State of Origin footy brings a whole new energy to AFL. That's because State of Origin football is based on regions, not clubs. That is, players play for the state they originally come from rather than for their professional AFL club. So, instead of Collingwood vs Carlton, you might get Victoria vs Western Australia. You can just imagine the passion this is going to bring to Aussie rules football in 2026!
More About AFL
AFL is one of Australia’s most popular sports leagues. It sees spectacularly high (and growing) spectatorship and TV ratings year-on-year. Why? It's simple. Every season delivers heart-pounding action with millions of fans rooting and cheering for their favourite teams. Old scores are settled and new rivals clash. It looks like footy fans are in for another thrilling season of AFL action!
Who will come out on top in AFL 2026? Will the Brisbane Lions defend their title? Will the Geelong Cats get their own back? Will the top contenders deliver unforgettable matches that always get the audience going, or will an underdog defy expectations?
No matter where you are in the ladder, watching footy has never been this exciting - or accessible! It’s easier than ever to watch AFL games live and on demand wherever and whenever you want with Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports. Don’t miss a second of AFL 2026, sign up today!
Frequently Asked Questions
The best places to watch AFL live are Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports. Here, you’ll be able to watch every match live or on demand, so you’ll never miss a single highlight!
There are three ways to watch AFL for free next season. Channel 7 will continue to broadcast limited free-to-air coverage on TV. For a full, ad-free experience, you can also watch AFL games free on Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports for a limited time with a free trial.
Channel 7 continues to provide limited AFL coverage in Australia in 2026. This means you’ll be able to catch many games on free-to-air TV, as well as on-demand replays on 7plus.
As with previous seasons, there will be 25 rounds in the AFL 2026 season. However, you won’t be able to watch every match on free-to-air Channel 7. For full coverage, head over to Foxtel or Kayo!
You can watch AFL on your phone using either the Foxtel Go or Kayo Sports apps, which come free with respective trials and subscriptions.
You can get quick highlights on the official AFL website/app, as well as on 7plus and YouTube. You can also get shorter, highlight-packed games with Kayo Minis on Kayo Sports.