9—12 April 2026 GET READY FOR AFL GATHER ROUND 2026
From 9–12 April, South Australia will be ready to roar — 18 teams, 9 games and 1 unforgettable Festival of Footy. In 2026, Gather Round will also return to the Barossa, where rolling vineyards meet die-hard footy fans, setting the stage for a weekend of sport, flavour and local experiences that linger long after the final siren. Whether it’s the buzz of Adelaide Oval or the warm hospitality of regional South Australia, Gather Round is more than a game — it's built into the South Australian story.
VIEW FESTIVAL OF FOOTY BROCHURE
PLAYER APPEARANCES, FOOTY CLINICS & OPEN TRAININGS
Get up close to your favourite AFL players with open trainings and FREE footy clinics for kids aged 5–12. Register for coaching clinics HERE.
OPEN TRAININGS
Carlton Open Training
3.30pm-4.30pm, Sturt FC
Adelaide Crows Open Training
5.00-5.30pm, Glenelg Oval
FOOTY CLINICS
Adelaide Crows Footy Clinic
3.00-4.30pm, Glenelg Oval
PLAYER APPEARANCES
Melbourne
Footy Festival - Elder Park
10.00am - 11.00am
Fremantle
Footy Festival - Elder Park
1.30pm - 2.30pm
West Coast
Footy Festival - Elder Park
4.00pm - 5.00pm
Port Adelaide
Footy Festival - Elder Park
4.30pm - 5.30pm
North Melbourne
Footy Festival - Elder Park
5.00pm - 6.00pm
OPEN TRAININGS
Melbourne Open Training
10.00 -11.00am, South Adelaide
Fremantle Open Training
10.30-11.30am, Sturt FC
Collingwood Open Training
4:00-5.00pm, West Adelaide
FOOTY CLINICS
West Coast Eagles Footy Clinic
3.30-5.00pm, Glenelg Oval
PLAYER APPEARANCES
Carlton
Footy Festival - Elder Park
10.00am - 11.00am
Sydney
Footy Festival - Elder Park
11.00am - 12.00pm
Adelaide Crows
Footy Festival - Elder Park
West Bulldogs
Footy Festival - Elder Park
11.15am - 12.15pm
Hawthorn
Footy Festival - Elder Park
12.00pm - 1.00pm
Essendon
Footy Festival - Elder Park
Gold Coast
Footy Festival - Elder Park
1.00pm - 2.00pm
Richmond
Footy Festival - Elder Park
OPEN TRAININGS
North Melbourne Open Training
9.00-10.00am, Barossa Park
Melbourne Open Training
10.00-11.00am, Glenelg Oval
Brisbane Lions Open Training
11.30am-12.30pm, Barossa Park
Western Bulldogs Open Training
2:30-3:00pm, North Adelaide
Gold Coast SUNS Open Training
3.00-4.00pm, Norwood
Essendon Open Training
3.30-4.15pm, Sturt FC
Hawthorn Open Training
3.00-4.00pm, West Torrens FC
Sydney Swans Open Training
4.00-5.00pm, Norwood
FOOTY CLINICS
Richmond Footy Clinic
3.00-5.00pm, Central Districts FC
Essendon Footy Clinic
3.45-5.15pm, Sturt FC
PLAYER APPEARANCES
Collingwood
Footy Festival - Elder Park
10.30am - 11.30am
Geelong
Footy Festival - Elder Park
10.00am - 11.00am
St Kilda
Footy Festival - Elder Park
3.15pm - 4.15pm
OPEN TRAININGS
Geelong Cats Open Training
9.30am-10.00am, Norwood
Port Adelaide Open Training
10.00-11.00am, Alberton Oval
West Coast Eagles Open Training
10.00-11.00am, West Adelaide
Richmond Open Training
12.00-1.00pm, Central Districts FC
GWS GIANTS Open Training
3.15-4.15pm, Tanunda FC
FOOTY CLINICS
Geelong Cats Footy Clinic
9.30am-11.00am, Norwood
Collingwood Footy Clinic
10.00am-11.30am, Woodville West Torrens FC
GWS GIANTS Footy Clinic
4.15-5.00pm, Tanunda FC
FOOTY CLINICS
Hawthorn Footy Clinic
10:00-12:00pm, Woodville West Torrens FC
FOOTY CLINICS
St Kilda Footy Clinic
8.30am-10.30am, Woodville West Torrens FC
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EventEventFreeAdelaide
AFL GATHER ROUND 2026 TICKETS & FIXTURE
Get behind your team and catch all the AFL Gather Round action, right here in South Australia. Check the schedule, find your match and start planning a weekend worth getting around.
Adelaide Crows vs Carlton
Adelaide Oval, 7:10pm
Collingwood vs Fremantle
Adelaide Oval, 7:10pm.
SANFL v VFL MATCH
The famous rivalry between South Australia and Victoria is set to strengthen with the best of the SANFL and SANFLW set to clash with the Big V in a blockbuster double-header at Glenelg's Stratarama Stadium during Gather Round.
Transport for Gather Round
Travel for free with your game day ticket on Adelaide Metro bus, train and tram services. Extra services will be available for every game, including the Footy Express to Adelaide Oval and dedicated bus shuttles for games at Norwood and Barossa Park. For more details visit adelaidemetro.com.au
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Free Shuttle Buses
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Travel to the Barossa
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Travel to Norwood
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Travel to Adelaide Oval
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Drive to Adelaide
Free Shuttle Buses
Dedicated shuttle services will operate during AFL Gather Round 2026, providing free travel to key match venues with a valid game‑day ticket. Services operate before and after matches.
Available shuttle routes include:
- City – Barossa Park shuttle
Departing from King William Road, opposite or adjacent the Macca’s Footy Festival at Elder Park. - City – Norwood Oval shuttle
Departing from King William Road, opposite or adjacent the Macca’s Footy Festival at Elder Park. - Gawler Railway Station – Barossa Park shuttle
Connecting with regular Gawler train services before and after matches. - Angaston & Nuriootpa - Barossa Park shuttle
Departing from key stops across Angaston and Nuriootpa, with services operating directly to and from Barossa Park on match days.
For matches at Adelaide Oval, dedicated Footy Express bus services will operate:
- Footy Express AO
- Footy Express AOX
Travel to the Barossa
Free public transport is available to Barossa Park during AFL Gather Round 2026 with a valid game‑day ticket. Fans can travel via train and shuttle connections or dedicated bus shuttles, operating before and after matches.
Available services include:
- City – Barossa Park shuttle bus
Departing from King William Road, opposite or adjacent the Macca’s Footy Festival at Elder Park. - Gawler train line
Regular services operating before and after matches. - Gawler Railway Station – Barossa Park shuttle bus
Special event shuttle connecting with Gawler train services.
Find out more information on the Adelaide Metro website.
Within the Barossa, there will be a free bus shuttle service, Bounce Around the Barossa for fans wanting to experience the best of the Barossa region. Free for all to use and offering a hop on, hop off service across Barossa Region including towns such as Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Angaston and Gawler.
Travel to Norwood
Available services include:
- City – Norwood Oval shuttle bus
Departing from King William Road, opposite or adjacent the Macca’s Footy Festival at Elder Park. - Regular Adelaide Metro bus services
Travel to the city and connect with the City–Norwood shuttle bus.
Fans can catch free public transport to and from Norwood Oval during AFL Gather Round with a valid game‑day ticket. The City–Norwood shuttle bus operates before and after matches, providing direct access to the stadium from the Adelaide CBD.
Those choosing to drive should be aware that road closures, detours and limited parking may be in place around Norwood Oval during match days and associated events.
Travel to Adelaide Oval
For matches at Adelaide Oval, Footy Express services (AO and AOX) will operate to and from the stadium.
Drive to Adelaide
Drive to Adelaide via scenic route or the direct route, we know the best places for a pit stop. From cafes, attractions to postcard-worthy beaches. Explore the map to learn more.
Go beyond the boundary
From shucking fresh oysters to teeing off on world-class greens, see how the players and their families have spent time off the field in South Australia.
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Ebony Marinoff | AdelaideEbony Marinoff | Adelaide
Ebony Marinoff trades the oval for the ocean on a Wild Water Jet Ski tour, discovering historic shipwrecks and local dolphins in North Haven.
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Max Gawn | Barossa & Clare ValleyMax Gawn | Barossa & Clare Valley
Max Gawn journeys through the Barossa on horseback before wine tastings and lunch at the award-winning Watervale Hotel in the Clare Valley.
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Jack Ginnivan | FP Jack GinnivanJack Ginnivan | Fleurieu Peninsula
Join Jack Ginnivan on the Fleurieu Peninsula for a well-earned coastal escape, complete with seaside fish and chips and quad biking.
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Jack Higgins | LimestoneJack Higgins | Limestone Coast
Follow Jack Higgins through the Limestone Coast as he explores turquoise sinkholes in Mount Gambier, meets the locals on a Penola farm and takes to the air for a seaside flight over Robe.
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Daniel Rioli | EPDaniel Rioli | Eyre Peninsula
Daniel Rioli dives into the Eyre Peninsula, shucking world-class oysters in Coffin Bay and fishing the pristine waters off Port Lincoln.
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Jeremy Cameron | KIJeremey Cameron | Kangaroo Island
Wild, rugged and refined. Jeremy Cameron swaps the stadium for fishing adventures and spectacular clifftop greens in Kangaroo Island.
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Jeremy Howe | MRL&CJeremy Howe | Murray River, Lakes & Coorong
Journey with Jeremy Howe and his family to Monarto Safari Resort for a world-class adventure in the heart of the Murraylands.
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Matilda Scholz | ADL HillsMatilda Scholz | Adelaide Hills
Vines, views and horseback adventures. Matilda Scholz visits the Adelaide Hills for a horseback adventure through the vineyards.
Plan your Gather Round Trip
Whether it’s a weekend whirlwind or a full week away, follow your favourite players and make time to taste, explore and experience the best of South Australia while you’re here.
Nearby regions
Ask any South Australian — there’s plenty to love beyond the city. Stay a little longer and get to know the places we head to when we’ve got time to spare.
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BarossaBarossa
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Adelaide HillsAdelaide Hills
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Fleurieu PeninsulaFleurieu Peninsula
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Kangaroo IslandKangaroo Island
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Clare ValleyClare Valley
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Limestone CoastLimestone Coast
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Eyre PeninsulaEyre Peninsula
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Murray River, Lakes and CoorongMurray River, Lakes and Coorong
Adelaide Things to Do
Climb to the top of Adelaide Oval, wander through an exhibition or just follow your curiosity. These are the things we always recommend to visitors.
Adelaide Where to Eat & Drink
Cheering on your team can be hungry and thirsty work — good thing South Australia’s food and wine scene is match-fit and ready to go.
Adelaide Places to Stay
Whether you're after a city stay with all the trimmings or a park where the kids can run free, Adelaide’s got a place with your name on it.
Plan your Gather Round Trip
Whether it’s two nights or ten, make space for more than just the game. From wine country to coastlines, we’ve got some ideas to help you fill the time and fill your cup.
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Road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide -
Accommodation -
Three-day Adelaide Itinerary -
Road trip from Sydney to Adelaide -
Adelaide’s Top Ten Adventures For Sports Lovers -
8 things you can only do in South Australia