The AFL has confirmed the fixture for Gather Round 2026, the annual festival of footy held in South Australia. The event will run from Thursday, 9 April, to Sunday, 12 April 2026. This marks the continuation of the Gather Round tradition, where all 18 AFL clubs play matches in a concentrated time and location. The 2026 event comes with the promise of more football action and fan engagement across multiple venues in South Australia.
Gather Round signage during a match at Oval
Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs Set for Saturday Night Clash
Hawthorn will face Western Bulldogs on Saturday, 11 April, at Adelaide Oval. The game is scheduled for a 7:05 pm ACST (7:35 pm AEST) start. It will be part of Round 6 of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture. This match is a highlight of the Gather Round calendar and has generated keen interest from both clubs’ supporters. The fixture release confirms Hawthorn and Bulldogs will compete in a ticketed match held at the iconic Adelaide Oval, located on Kaurna land.
Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs face each other on a Saturday Night Clash
Ticketing and Broadcast Details
Hawthorn members gain priority access to tickets from Wednesday, 3 December 2025. General public sales open on Thursday, 4 December 2025. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Footy and Kayo, enabling fans nationwide to follow the contest.
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The Broader Gather Round Context
Gather Round 2026 follows the success of the prior year’s event, which attracted a record attendance of nearly 270,000 fans across nine matches. The 2025 edition generated a total economic contribution of $113.9 million for South Australia, marking a 24% increase on 2024 figures. It also saw a surge in visitor nights and interstate travel during the four-day festival period.
The 2026 Festival will again include nine matches across four days, featuring games at Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval, Barossa Valley, and Barossa Park. The event coincides with school holidays in multiple states, encouraging families and interstate visitors to attend and maximise their stay in South Australia.
Economic and Cultural Impact
The AFL CEO Andrew Dillon expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming Gather Round. He said, “This year’s Gather Round was another incredible success with almost 270,000 fans attending across the four days of matches – our highest Gather Round attendance yet – and we are excited to do it all again in 2026.” He credited the timing during school holidays as beneficial for travel and accommodation arrangements. Dillon also highlighted ongoing plans to expand the event’s scale and quality.
Historical Gather Round Matches for Bulldogs
Since the inception of Gather Round, the Bulldogs have played matches in South Australia, including games at Adelaide Oval against Port Adelaide and Geelong, and a recent game at Norwood Oval against Brisbane. The 2026 fixture continues this tradition of Bulldogs fixtures in South Australia, with the clash against Hawthorn the centrepiece of Saturday night football during the festival.
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Supporting South Australia’s Tourism and Local Economy
The Barossa Valley region, a key location for Gather Round activity, benefits significantly from AFL matches held there. The 2025 event generated nearly $4.9 million in direct expenditure for the region. The number of visitor nights rose by 26%, with interstate visitors staying an average of 4.7 nights. These figures underscore the importance of Gather Round as both a sporting and tourism event for South Australia.
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Full 2026 Gather Round Fixture Snapshot
- Thursday, 9 April: Adelaide v Carlton at Adelaide Oval, 7:10 pm
- Friday, 10 April: Collingwood v Fremantle at Adelaide Oval
- Saturday, 11 April: Essendon v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval
- Saturday, 11 April: North Melbourne v Brisbane at Barossa Valley
- Saturday, 11 April: Sydney v Gold Coast at Norwood Oval
- Saturday, 11 April: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval, 7:05 pm ACST
- Sunday, 12 April: Geelong v West Coast at Norwood Oval
- Sunday, 12 April: GWS v Richmond at Barossa Valley
- Sunday, 12 April: Port Adelaide v St Kilda to close Gather Round, Adelaide Oval, 6:45 pm
Final Words
Gather Round 2026 promises an exciting weekend of footy, with the Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs match providing a major drawcard on Saturday night. The festival continues to boost South Australia’s sporting profile and economy while providing AFL fans with a unique and immersive experience. Tickets are poised to sell quickly, with early access available to club members starting in early December.
This festival showcases football’s power to bring communities together and drive regional engagement, significant to AFL’s broader growth strategy.
