SIX KEY games in 2026.

Upon the announcement of the 2026 AFL fixture, attention naturally turned to some highly anticipated clashes on the calendar.

With Carlton receiving some blockbuster time slots in the opening rounds plus a home run of nine straight games in Melbourne, here’s some which caught the eye.

Opening Round v Sydney

Hello, old sport. Officially confirmed on Wednesday morning, Carlton will open the season - but not in the way we’ve come accustomed to. It’s a trip to Sydney for the first game of the campaign, with the Blues going head-to-head against the Swans in a game which is sure to get the football world talking. The season opener could see Ollie Florent and Will Hayward pull on the Navy Blue for the first time against their old side, while there’s also the matter of one Charlie Curnow playing his first game in Swans colours.

Round 1 v Richmond

Back to familiar surrounds. Round 1 will kick off with Carlton hosting Richmond at the MCG, in the first of three consecutive home games for the Blues at the venue. While it won’t be the first game in Melbourne for the season, a bumper crowd is sure to venture to the home of football when these two traditional clubs meet. Of course, the Blues will be looking to make good from the 2025 edition between the two sides, where Carlton had a 41-point lead overturned in an upset defeat. Expect more fireworks on Thursday 12 March.

Round 6 v Collingwood

It’ll be a school holiday treat when the old enemies do battle at the MCG for the Peter Mac Cup. Always the most hotly anticipated clash on the calendar from a Carlton perspective, the Blues will have hosting rights first up before the return leg between the two sides in Round 19. The Blues haven’t been able to get the bragging rights over the Pies since 2023, so the Thursday night clash - Carlton’s fourth Thursday night time slot from its first six games - will have plenty riding on it.

Round 8 v St Kilda

Expect it to be a Marvel Stadium cauldron when Carlton hosts St Kilda on Saturday night in Round 8. The Blues’ first home game under the roof for the 2026 campaign, there’s a very obvious storyline when these two sides go head to head following the defections of Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni to Moorabbin as free agents. Sandwiched between two interstate away trips, tickets are going to be in hot demand on a night where former fan favourites front up against the Blues for the first time. 

PRINT CARLTON'S 2026 FIXTURE NOW!

Round 12 v Geelong

The 2025 Grand Finalists under Friday night lights. Carlton will host Geelong at the MCG in Round 12 as one of 10 games the Blues will play under lights from its opening dozen games. These two sides have played out some memorable games in recent seasons, with the Blues victorious in three of their last four outings against the consistent Cats - could recent history repeat in 2026?

Round 18 v Hawthorn

While the details are still to be locked in, the Round 18 home game against the Hawks will be a key part of the 2026 run in for the Blues. One of the more noticeable aspects of Carlton’s end to the 2026 campaign is that the last nine games are in Melbourne, compared to six bouts of interstate travel from the opening 14 games. The Round 18 clash with the Hawks will be the Blues’ final home game at the MCG for the season, followed by an away game against the Pies and then five straight matches at Marvel Stadium to round out the home-and-away campaign.