Not long after the AFL 2026 season fixture was announced, the VFL 2026 season dates and structure were revealed.
With 22 teams competing in the tier below the main competition, the VFL promises to produce high qualify football and help develop talent for the the big leagues.
Two new teams will enter the competition in 2026 with St Kilda and Tasmania competing as standalone clubs, while Sandringham will become a standalone VFL club and the Northern Bullants have lost their licence.
AllSportsPeople explains everything you need to know about VFL 2026.
When will the VFL 2026 start? Season dates
The 2026 VFL season will begin on the weekend of March 21-22 - which is in line with Round 2 of the AFL season.
The finals series will be played across five weeks commencing with the Wildcard Finals on the weekend of August 22-23.
The VFL grand final is locked in to be played on Sunday, September 20.
How will the VFL 2026 season be structured?
In VFL 2026, 22 teams will feature with each side to play 18 matches across 21 rounds with three byes.
Ten teams will qualify for the finals series - with teams finishing 7-10 playing off in a wildcard round before two of those teams join the top six the following week.
Which clubs and teams will be in VFL 2026?
VFL 2026 will feature 22 teams - which is one more than the 2025 season.
Sandringham and St Kilda were aligned into one club during the most recent campaign but will compete as separate teams in 2026.
Tasmania will also join the VFL ahead of their entrance to the AFL competition in 2028.
The Northern Bullants will no longer be a part of the VFL after losing their licence.
AFL standalone clubs
- Brisbane Lions
- Carlton
- Collingwood
- Essendon
- Footscray Bulldogs (Western Bulldogs)
- Geelong
- Gold Coast Suns
- GWS Giants
- North Melbourne
- Richmond
- St Kilda
- Sydney
- Tasmania
AFL-aligned clubs
- Box Hill Hawks (Hawthorn)
- Casey Demons (Melbourne)
VFL standalone clubs
- Coburg
- Frankston
- Port Melbourne
- Sandringham
- Southport Sharks
- Werribee
- Williamstown
What is the VFL 'wildcard round'?
Mirroring the AFL finals system that will be introduced in 2025, four VFL teams will get the opportunity to qualify for the finals after the season has been completed - as has been the case since 2023.
Firstly, the top six teams on the VFL ladder at the end of the home and away season will qualify for the finals.
The four teams finishing from 7th to 10th will playoff in a sudden death match the week after the regular season finishes (7v10, 8v9), with two winners progressing to the final eight finals teams.
This 'wildcard round' will be held on the weekend of August 24-25 and the six finals teams not participating will enjoy a week off before the finals begin.
Where do the reserves for Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and Fremantle play?
Four AFL clubs do not use the VFL competition as a feeder or 'reserves' league for their senior teams.
The South Australian clubs - Adelaide and Port Adelaide - have 'reserves' teams of the same in the South Australian Football League (SANFL).
AFL clubs based in Western Australia - West Coast and Fremantle - use the West Australian Football League (WAFL) as their feeder competition.
West Coast use a team of the same name, while Fremantle are affiliated with Peel Thunder.