Geelong, Hawthorn and Adelaide are the big winners out of the AFL fixture in terms of exposure with eight prime time games each in the first 16 rounds.
Intriguingly, Carlton have received seven Thursday and Friday night games, including the first game of the season versus Sydney and its traditional Round 1 clash against Richmond.
Collingwood have only been given six games, but also have separate blockbuster fixtures in Opening Round against St Kilda and ANZAC Day versus Essendon.
West Coast were the only club to miss out on a prime time fixture, while Melbourne and North Melbourne only snared one each.
Big Victorian club Essendon were overlooked, only receiving two Thursday or Friday night games - the same as buzz club St Kilda and finals contender GWS.
MORE: AFL fixture highlights: Blockbusters aplenty as traded players take on former clubs
AFL prime time games - Opening Round-Round 15
| Teams | Thursday night | Friday night | Total prime games |
| Adelaide | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Geelong | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Hawthorn | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Carlton | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Western Bulldogs | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Collingwood | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Fremantle | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Sydney | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Gold Coast | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Richmond | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Port Adelaide | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Brisbane | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| GWS | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| St Kilda | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Essendon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Melbourne | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| North Melbourne | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| West Coast | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AFL fixture highlights
Opening Round
- Sydney vs. Carlton (SCG) - Thursday night
- Gold Coast vs. Geelong (People First Stadium) - Friday night
- GWS vs. Hawthorn (Engie Stadium) - Saturday
- Brisbane vs. Western Bulldogs (Gabba) - Saturday night
- St Kilda vs. Collingwood (MCG) - Sunday night
Gather Round (Round 5)
Games at Adelaide Oval unless specified
- Adelaide vs. Carlton - Thursday night
- Collingwood vs. Fremantle - Friday night
- North Melbourne vs. Brisbane - Saturday (Barossa)
- Essendon vs. Melbourne - Saturday
- Sydney vs. Gold Coast - Saturday (Norwood)
- Hawthorn vs. Western Bulldogs - Saturday night
- Geelong vs. West Coast - Sunday (Norwood)
- GWS vs, Richmond - Sunday (Barossa)
- Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda - Sunday night
Easter Round
- Brisbane vs. Collingwood (Gabba) - Easter Thursday night
- North Melbourne vs. Carlton (Marvel) - Good Friday
- Adelaide vs. Fremantle (Adelaide Oval) - Good Friday night
- Richmond vs. Port Adelaide (MCG) - Easter Saturday
- West Coast vs. Sydney (Optus) - Easter Saturday night
- Melbourne vs, Gold Coast (MCG) - Easter Sunday
- Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon (Marvel) - Easter Sunday night
- Hawthorn vs. Geelong (MCG) - Easter Monday
- BYES: St Kilda, GWS
Anzac Day (four matches on the Saturday)
- Hawthorn vs. Gold Coast (UTAS)
- Essendon vs. Collingwood (MCG)
- Port Adelaide vs. Geelong (Adelaide Oval)
- Fremantle vs. Carlton (Optus)
Players returning to former clubs/rivalry matches
- The first match of the AFL season will see Charlie Curnow make his Sydney debut against Carlton
- Ex-St Kilda captain Jack Steele plays against the Saints for Melbourne in Round 2
- Zach Merrett's Essendon will play Hawthorn on Friday night in Round 1
- Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni will play for St Kilda against former side Carlton on Saturday night in Round 8
- Christian Petracca will face his former side Melbourne in Gold Coast colours on Easter Sunday
- Round 12 will see Clayton Oliver playing for GWS against the Demons at the MCG
Other highlights
- Grand Final rematch is in Round 10, Thursday night, Brisbane vs. Geelong at the Gabba
- The Western Bulldogs won't play at MARS Stadium in 2026 due to construction at the Ballarat venue
- Carlton and Richmond will play in the traditional Thursday night timeslot at the MCG in Round 1