Photo: The Oval Lens | 2025 Triple M AFL Capricornia Senior Men Premiership winning Captain, Matt Wallin and Coach, Shaun Connor from the Yeppoon Swans.
Festival of Footy will again kick off season 2026 with a bang at the Rockhampton Cricket Grounds April 10-11.
The rest of the action will officially start on the 18 April with a huge double header in the Port Curtis Region. Followed by the Annual ANZAC Day clashes between Panthers & Brothers on April 25-26.
Four marquee themed rounds will return in 2026, with the introduction of Tackle Your Feelings round in conjunction with the TYF program.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which honours the extraordinary contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, cultures and communities to Australian rules football, will be played across two rounds, Saturday May 16 and Saturday May 23. Key celebrations will take place at all six clubs home games during this two-week window.
The state-wide, award-winning Pride Round, celebrating the rainbow community, will take place across two weekends, Saturday July 18 and Saturday July 25.
AFLQ Capricornia Competition Manager Jourdan Novak said excitement is building nicely ahead of the 2026 season.
“After another great year in 2025, we are looking forward to seeing the competition grow and expand in 2026,” Novak said.
“The challenge is on for someone to compete with the now 11 in a row Senior Men premiers, Yeppoon Swans. While in the Senior Women, it will be great to see who can bounce back after Brothers’ dominance in 2025.
“Ahead of the season return, we would like to again thank Triple M Central Queensland as the naming rights sponsor of our Senior Grades. We thank them for their ongoing support of senior Australian rules football in the Capricornia region.”
Photo: The Oval Lens | Jake Cosgrove (Gladstone Suns) taking a speccy in the 2025 Reserve Grade Men Grand Final against the Yeppoon Swans.
Anticipation is also in full ahead of the CQToday AFL Capricornia Youth Grades, set to return to the field on 18th April.
“We are very excited to get our Youth grades back on the park in 2026, and even more excited for the new naming rights sponsor, CQToday, for coming on board.” Novak said.
“This new partnership will allow our Youth teams to receive further exposure through the local newspaper and build the professionalism of our competitions.
“The past several years has seen each of our Youth Premiers come from a different club, something that is very good to see for the spread of youth talent in our region.”
Photo: The Oval Lens | 2025 U15 Boys Grand Final Best on Ground Winner, Greg Bani (Rockhampton Panthers), receiving his award from John Deitz (GC Suns Academy U16M Coach, Talent ID and Recruitment)
The 2026 AFL Capricornia Finals Series will kick off August 22-23 with Youth Qualifying & Elimination Finals. The finals will continue through to the big dances; Youth Grand Final Day, Sunday September 6 and Senior Grand Final Day, Saturday September 12.
For the full 2026 fixtures of all grades, head to PlayHQ or the link here.
Registrations are open now! Contact your local club or visit play.afl for more information.