AFLW Grand Final Weekend Features 6 Women's Matches

Australian football fans will get twice the action next year as the women's league shares the spotlight with one of the country's most watched sporting events.

The AFLW has announced its 2026 season will feature six women's matches during grand final weekend in September, including four games on the Friday public holiday in Melbourne. The move puts women's football front and center during what's traditionally been an all-male celebration.

The season opens August 9 with a groundbreaking moment. St Kilda will host Carlton in a women's match as part of a double-header with the men's teams playing the same matchup. It's the first of four confirmed double-headers where fans can watch both competitions in one day.

The Friday before the men's grand final on September 26 will showcase two matches at Princes Park. Carlton takes on Richmond, followed by back-to-back champions North Melbourne facing Melbourne. Three other Victorian clubs host matches that weekend, making women's football impossible to miss during the sport's biggest celebration.

The scheduling represents a major shift for women's sports visibility. Instead of tucking women's games into off-peak times, the league is placing them during maximum fan engagement when millions of eyes are already on football.

Round two delivers another marquee moment with Brisbane hosting North Melbourne in a grand final rematch. The season spans 12 rounds plus finals, wrapping up with the championship game in late November.

The Ripple Effect

This scheduling sends a powerful message beyond the sport itself. Young girls watching will see female athletes competing on the same stages and days as their male counterparts, normalizing gender equality in professional sports.

The double-headers also solve a practical problem. Fans who might not have traveled specifically for a women's game now get exposed to the talent and excitement of the AFLW. Early data from previous double-headers shows strong attendance numbers and positive fan reactions.

Other sports leagues worldwide are watching Australia's approach. As women's professional sports fight for media coverage and stadium access, the AFLW is proving that sharing marquee dates doesn't diminish the men's game but enriches the overall experience.

The 2026 season will celebrate Indigenous Round across two weeks and Pride Round across another two, doubling the visibility for these important cultural moments.

Football fans now have twice as many reasons to celebrate Australia's favorite sport.