Officials 'open minded' as Gather Round future uncertain

Adelaide will again host the AFL's Gather Round in 2026, but the event's long-term future in South Australia remains uncertain.

Despite the success of previous years, an extension to the contract beyond the upcoming event has not yet been secured.

The 2026 Gather Round schedule has been released, confirming Adelaide Oval as the primary venue.

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Adelaide Crows will commence the round with a Thursday night match against Carlton. 

Collingwood and Fremantle will feature in the Friday night game.

The Barossa Valley will host North Melbourne and Brisbane on Saturday, one of four games scheduled for that day, including Sydney versus Gold Coast at Norwood Oval.

Geelong will face West Coast at Norwood Oval on Sunday, while Greater Western Sydney and Richmond will play in Lyndoch.

Port Adelaide will conclude the round against St Kilda on Sunday night. Mt Barker has again been excluded from hosting any matches.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged the event's rapid growth.

"We've seen Gather Round start from an experiment, and turn into a juggernaut, and has a momentum that seems hard to stop," he said.

Despite the current lack of a long-term commitment, Malinauskas indicated a willingness to consider alternative venues should the event remain in South Australia.

"Should South Australia get an extension of the contract, we're open minded to what other venues might look like in the future," he said.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon expressed optimism regarding the event's future in the state, dependent on the success of next year.

"If Gather Round next year's as successful as it has been previously, I think we'll be OK," he said.

The event is expected to provide a significant boost to the state's hospitality sector.

"We are seeing unprecedented occupancy rates in our hotels," Malinauskas said.

The Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide is undertaking a $23 million renovation to cater for the anticipated influx of tourists.

Tickets for Gather Round 2026 will be available to AFL members on December 3, with general public sales commencing the following day.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.