Anzac Day 2026 falls on Saturday, April 25, and the AFL has locked in four Round 7 matches across the country, headlined by the traditional Essendon vs Collingwood clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Richmond vs Melbourne opens the round on Anzac Day Eve on Friday, April 24, while AFL Barwon community football and netball leagues run their own Anzac Day fixtures across six venues in the Bellarine and Geelong regions.
Tickets for Essendon vs Collingwood at the MCG are sold out, with MCC Members’ Reserve seating also exhausted. Every AFL match pauses for a pre-match ceremony to honour Australian service men and women.
AFL Anzac Day 2026 Fixtures
Four AFL matches are scheduled across April 25, 2026, spread across Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. The Essendon vs Collingwood blockbuster at the MCG remains the centrepiece of the round.
| Match | Venue | Date | Time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn vs Gold Coast Suns | UTAS Stadium, Launceston | Saturday, April 25 | 12:30 PM |
| Essendon vs Collingwood | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Saturday, April 25 | 3:20 PM |
| Port Adelaide vs Geelong Cats | Adelaide Oval | Saturday, April 25 | 6:35 PM |
| Fremantle vs Carlton | Optus Stadium, Perth | Saturday, April 25 | 8:15 PM |
Anzac Eve 2026 Fixture
The AFL’s Anzac Eve tradition continues in 2026 with Richmond hosting Melbourne on Friday, April 24. The match forms part of the MCG’s two-night Anzac commemoration alongside Saturday’s Essendon vs Collingwood fixture.
| Match | Venue | Date | Time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond vs Melbourne | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Friday, April 24 | 7:40 PM |
Full Round 7 Fixtures
Round 7 of the 2026 season spans three days, with matches before and after Anzac Day itself. The Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans match on Thursday night opens the round.
| Match | Venue | Date | Time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans | Marvel Stadium | Thursday, April 23 | 7:30 PM |
| Richmond vs Melbourne | MCG | Friday, April 24 | 7:40 PM |
| Hawthorn vs Gold Coast Suns | UTAS Stadium | Saturday, April 25 | 12:30 PM |
| Essendon vs Collingwood | MCG | Saturday, April 25 | 3:20 PM |
| Port Adelaide vs Geelong | Adelaide Oval | Saturday, April 25 | 6:35 PM |
| Fremantle vs Carlton | Optus Stadium | Saturday, April 25 | 8:15 PM |
| St Kilda vs West Coast Eagles | Marvel Stadium | Sunday, April 26 | 1:10 PM |
| Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide Crows | The Gabba | Sunday, April 26 | 3:15 PM |
| GWS Giants vs North Melbourne | Manuka Oval, Canberra | Sunday, April 26 | 4:40 PM |
Essendon vs Collingwood: The Anzac Day Blockbuster
The Essendon-Collingwood clash is the most anticipated home-and-away match on the AFL calendar, often drawing bigger crowds than any non-Grand Final fixture.
The 2026 edition marks the 31st modern Anzac Day match between the two clubs, a fixture that began in 1995 when Kevin Sheedy, then Essendon coach and an army veteran, worked with Collingwood officials and the Victorian RSL to formalise a match honouring the Anzac spirit.
Anzac Day Match Head-to-Head Record
Collingwood holds a commanding lead in the rivalry coming into 2026. The table below reflects the 30 meetings played from 1995 through 2025.
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Anzac Day meetings | 30 |
| Collingwood wins | 18 |
| Essendon wins | 10 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Largest margin | Collingwood by 73 points (2008) |
| Longest unbeaten streak | Collingwood, 4 matches (1995–1998) |
| Current streak | Collingwood, 3 wins (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) |
The 2025 match was won by Collingwood 16.11 (107) to Essendon 10.6 (66). The inaugural 1995 match famously finished in a 111-111 draw in front of 94,825 fans at the MCG, which remains the third-highest home-and-away crowd in VFL/AFL history.
Form Guide Heading Into 2026
- Essendon (1-5): The Bombers have rediscovered form after a breakthrough win over Melbourne, sandwiched between defeats to the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast. A more free-flowing style has seen them score 100-plus in back-to-back games for the first time in over a year.
- Collingwood (3-3): The Magpies pulled off a late comeback to beat Carlton in Round 6. Steele Sidebottom, Jordan De Goey, and captain Darcy Moore are all expected back for Anzac Day after injury concerns.
MCG Ticket Status
General public tickets for Essendon vs Collingwood at the MCG are sold out with no further release planned. AFL Reserve tickets are also exhausted.
MCC Members’ Reserve seating and visitor tickets are also sold out, though members can still access unreserved seating and standing room by scanning at the Gate 2 turnstiles on match day, subject to capacity.
Public transport in Victoria is free through to Sunday, May 31, 2026, which applies to Anzac Day travel to the MCG.
AFL Barwon Community Anzac Day Fixtures 2026
AFL Barwon runs its Anzac Day commemorations across the Bellarine Football Netball League and Geelong Football Netball League.
Six senior matches are scheduled across the region, each preceded by a dedicated Anzac ceremony.
No entry fees are charged for these matches, keeping them compliant with Sport and Recreation Victoria guidelines that allow community sport on Anzac Day without Ministerial approval.
North Shore vs Newtown & Chilwell (Friday, April 24)
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Reserves game commences | 6:00 PM |
| B grade and E grade netball first centre pass | 6:25 PM |
| Anzac service commences | 7:50 PM |
| Senior football game commences | 8:20 PM |
| D grade and C grade netball first centre pass | 8:25 PM |
St Joseph’s vs South Barwon (Saturday, April 25)
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| C grade netball first centre pass | 10:20 AM |
| Reserves football game commences | 10:30 AM |
| D grade netball first centre pass | 11:10 AM |
| B grade netball first centre pass | 11:30 AM |
| Anzac service commences | 12:50 PM |
| Senior football game commences | 1:40 PM |
| E grade netball first centre pass | 1:45 PM |
| A grade netball first centre pass | 2:00 PM |
| Senior female football game commences | 5:00 PM |
Geelong West vs St Albans (Saturday, April 25)
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| D grade netball first centre pass | 10:05 AM |
| C grade netball first centre pass | 11:10 AM |
| Reserves football game commences | 12:00 PM |
| B grade and E grade netball first centre pass | 12:15 PM |
| Anzac ceremony commences | 1:45 PM |
| A grade netball first centre pass | 2:00 PM |
| Senior football game commences | 2:10 PM |
Portarlington vs Drysdale (Saturday, April 25)
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Reserves football game commences | 11:00 AM |
| D grade netball first centre pass | 11:15 AM |
| B grade netball first centre pass | 12:15 PM |
| Anzac service commences | 1:00 PM |
| Senior football game commences | 1:45 PM |
| A grade and E grade netball first centre pass | 2:45 PM |
Newcomb vs Ocean Grove (Saturday, April 25)
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| C grade netball first centre pass | 2:00 PM |
| Reserves football game commences | 2:15 PM |
| B grade and D grade netball first centre pass | 3:00 PM |
| Anzac service commences | 4:40 PM |
| Senior football, A grade and E grade netball commence | 5:10 PM |
Anglesea vs Torquay (Sunday, April 26)
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Anzac service commences | 1:30 PM |
| A grade netball first centre pass | 1:30 PM |
| Senior football game commences | 2:10 PM |
When Is Anzac Day 2026 in the AFL?
Anzac Day 2026 falls on Saturday, April 25, which is a Saturday for the first time since 2020.
The AFL has scheduled four Premiership matches on the day itself, plus the traditional Anzac Eve fixture on Friday, April 24.
The round also includes three further matches on Sunday, April 26, completing Round 7 of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
Why Is AFL Played on Anzac Day?
Australian rules football has a long tradition of playing on Anzac Day when the date falls on a weekend. The VFL’s first Anzac Day matches took place in 1960 after an Act of Parliament lifted earlier restrictions.
The modern Anzac Day match between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG was conceived by then-Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy in 1995 as a tribute to those who served.
The inaugural match drew 94,825 fans and ended in a 111-111 draw.
Every AFL and AFL Barwon match scheduled on Anzac Day 2026 pauses for a pre-match ceremony that includes the playing of the Last Post and recognition of Australian war veterans.
The Anzac Appeal, which funds critical services for veterans and their families including advocacy, mental health support, and financial assistance, receives donations linked to the Anzac Day matches.
Anzac Day Community Sport Rules in Victoria
AFL Barwon matches comply with the Anzac Day Act requirements in Victoria. The key rules for community sport on Anzac Day are:
- Events that do not charge entry fees or seek donations can proceed without Ministerial approval
- Events that charge admission require Ministerial approval and cannot start before 1:00 PM
- Licensed venues cannot serve liquor before 12:00 PM (midday)
- From 12:00 PM onwards, licensed venues trade under normal conditions
- All AFL Barwon Anzac Day fixtures are free entry, ensuring compliance without approval
Also Read
Conclusion: Anzac Day 2026 AFL Fixtures are here
Anzac Day 2026 delivers four AFL Premiership matches headlined by the traditional Essendon vs Collingwood clash at the MCG, plus an Anzac Eve fixture between Richmond and Melbourne.
At the community level, AFL Barwon runs six senior Anzac Day matches across the Bellarine and Geelong regions, each preceded by an Anzac ceremony and played without entry fees.
Collingwood arrives with a 3-match winning streak in the rivalry, while Essendon looks to capitalise on recent form improvements.
Tickets for the marquee MCG match are sold out, with standing-room access available only to MCC Members.
