A-League Men · 2026-27
A-League Men 2026-27 Season Dates & Format
Plan your season with key dates, games per club and the route from the regular-season ladder to the Championship. Published date windows are separate from confirmed match kick-off times.
Key season dates
Published windows show when a stage is planned. They do not confirm a match day, venue or kick-off time. Official date windows stay as published; individual match times follow your selected time zone.
| Stage | Date or window | What is confirmed? |
|---|---|---|
| First listed regular-season match | 16 October 2026 | Current fixture list |
| Last listed regular-season match | 9 May 2027 | Current fixture list; rearrangements may change this |
| Elimination finals | To be confirmed | Stage dates awaiting confirmation |
| Semi-finals: first leg | To be confirmed | Stage dates awaiting confirmation |
| Semi-finals: second leg | To be confirmed | Stage dates awaiting confirmation |
| Grand Final | 3-6 June 2027 | Published window; see fixtures for confirmed matches |
Regular-season format
- Clubs
- 12
- Games per club
- 26
- Matchweeks
- 28
- Regular-season matches
- 156
Each club plays 26 matches: home and away against every opponent, plus four additional third meetings. The calendar spans 28 matchweeks, including two split matchweeks in December and February. A matchweek is a round of fixtures, not necessarily a single calendar week.
156 regular-season fixtures are currently listed. Finals are counted separately.
Browse the full seasonInternational breaks
The schedule observes the FIFA international windows in November and March. League matches continue during the AFC Asian Cup from 7 January to 5 February 2027. The split matchweeks in December and February are scheduling arrangements, not a league-wide break.
A day without listed matches is not necessarily an official break. Venue availability and rearranged matches can affect the schedule.
How the ladder works
Points and teams level on points
A win earns three points, a draw one and a loss none. Teams level on points are separated first by goal difference, then goals scored, then total wins. Further criteria apply if they are still tied; see the full official rules.
Official ranking rulesPremier and Champion: two different honours
The Premier finishes first on the regular-season ladder and wins the Premiers' Plate. The Champion wins the Grand Final. The same club can win both, but finishing first does not automatically make a club the Champion.
View the league table →Finals qualification
The top six at the end of the regular season qualify. First and second enter at the semi-finals; third to sixth play elimination finals.
Third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth in single-match elimination finals. The semi-finals have two legs, followed by a single Grand Final. Seven matches across four weeks decide the Champion.
Finals fixtures and full formatPlan your football season
Choose your club, check dates in your city and keep the fixtures handy. Calendar subscriptions can pick up changes when your calendar app refreshes; a downloaded ICS or PDF is a one-time copy.
Season dates questions
When does the 2026-27 season start and end?
The first listed regular-season match is 16 October 2026 and the last is 9 May 2027. The published Grand Final window is 3-6 June 2027. A window is not a confirmed match day or kick-off time. Check the match listing for the final announcement.
How many games does each club play?
Each club plays 26 matches: home and away against every opponent, plus four additional third meetings. The calendar spans 28 matchweeks, including two split matchweeks in December and February. A matchweek is a round of fixtures, not necessarily a single calendar week.
Is a matchweek the same as a calendar week?
Not always. A matchweek is a numbered round in the league schedule. Split rounds and rearranged games can cover more than one week. This week on our fixture guide means Monday to Sunday in your selected time zone.
Can I save the season to my calendar?
Subscribe to a season or team calendar for fixture changes to appear when your calendar app refreshes. An ICS download or printed PDF is a one-time copy. Unconfirmed date windows are not individual match appointments.
Fixtures and results: official A-League Men fixtures.
Season dates and format reviewed 26 October 2026: season announcement and 2026-27 competition rules.
Check the latest match listing before travelling. Downloaded schedules may not include later fixture changes.