Football Australia has released the Domestic Match Calendar for 2026/27 (DMC 2026/27), setting out key dates for elite men’s and women’s football competitions across the country, while outlining transfer and registration windows for the period 6 October 2026 – 5 October 2027.
The DMC 2026/27 brings together competitions across all levels of the game into a single, coordinated schedule, supporting player development, and clearer pathways. It aligns with FIFA’s international match calendar for both men’s and women’s football, incorporating key FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) windows as well as major tournaments such as the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup.
By outlining a clear national framework, the DMC 2026/27 establishes defined playing windows for the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Ninja A-League Women, Hahn Australia Cup, the Australian Championship and National Premier Leagues, enabling clubs, competitions and administrators to plan with greater certainty.
Quote attributed to Football Australia’s Executive Director of Football, Heather Garriock:
“The 2026/27 Domestic Match Calendar has been carefully shaped to support player welfare, maximise performance and create more consistency across competitions.
“We’ve worked closely with key stakeholders - from the AFC and APL to our Member Federations - to ensure the schedule provides the right balance between preparation, recovery and match opportunities.
“Importantly, the calendar also ensures alignment with international windows, particularly the lead-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, giving our players the best possible platform to prepare and perform on the global stage.
“We’re also pleased to bring back the Australian Championship, creating opportunities for emerging players and strengthening the connection between the tiers of the game.”
The development of the DMC 2026/27 has been underpinned by ongoing and extensive consultation with key stakeholders including the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Member Federations.
Two registration windows will service each of the men’s and women’s professional competitions, strategically scheduled to enable player movement between clubs within Australia and globally.
Key dates/features of the DMC 2026/27 include:
- Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2026/27 Regular Season to commence from 16 October 2026 with the 2027 Grand Final to be contested on the weekend of 5-6 June 2027.
- Ninja A-League Women 2026/27 Regular Season to commence from 16 October 2026 with the 2027 Grand Final to be contested on the weekend of 15-16 May 2027.
- The Australian Championship will commence from 16 October 2026 with the Championship Final scheduled for 12-13 December 2026.
- National Premier Leagues 2027 Seasons – both men’s and women’s – will commence from 5 February 2027 and conclude by 12 September 2027.
- Player welfare windows are included in both men’s and women’s calendars to ensure players can obtain rest and take annual leave between seasons/elite football commitments.
NOTE: Dates are subject to change based on the final fixture release.
