Female Festival of Footy & AFL Cairns 2026 Finals Series - AFL Cairns

26th August 2026 Media Release

FEMALE FESTIVAL OF FOOTY AND AFL CAIRNS 2026 FINALS SERIES

AFL Cairns proudly launches a unique opportunity to bring together Community Football and Elite Sport across one weekend.

In 2026 Hawthorn will once again return to Cazalys Stadium to take on North Melbourne in the 2026 NAB AFLW Premiership season. This opportunity presents a landmark moment for community sport, whereby the 2026 AFL Cairns Women’s Grand Final will take place as a curtain closer to the AFLW Match. Bringing together community football and elite sport in one momentous festival of female football. This opportunity presents a historic moment for AFL Cairns Women’s Competition, with the two finalists taking the field after the completion of the AFLW Match on September 18, giving our athletes the opportunity to play in front of people from across the country, as well as local supporters.

The AFL Cairns Finals Series begins on September 4th with the AFL Cairns Women’s Elimination and Qualifying Final to be held at Cazalys Stadium. Either Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs or South Cairns Cutters (pending results from Round 19), will take on the Port Douglas Crocs Women’s from 6pm in the Elimination Final, while the currently undefeated ladder leaders North Cairns Tigers will take on South Cairns or Centrals Trinity Beach in the Qualifying Final at 7.45pm, with the winner securing a place in the historic Friday Night Grand Final at Cazalys Stadium.

The Grill’d Division three finals series will also take place on Friday September 4th at Holloways Beach Sporting Complex from 6pm, with the winners booking their place directly into the Grand Final to be held at Cazalys Stadium on the 11th of September.

The Development and Senior Men’s Elimination and Qualifying Finals will take place at Cazalys Stadium on the 5th of September. Port Douglas will take on South Cairns in the Senior Men’s from 5.15pm (Qualifying Final), Centrals will take on the Saints in the Senior Men’s Elimination Final at 2.30pm. The development matches will be 10.00am with South Cairns taking on Cairns Saints in the Elimination Final and at 12.15pm Port Douglas will take on Centrals Trinity Beach in the Qualifying Final.

Preliminary Finals will be held on the 12th of September at Cazalys Stadium, with the Women’s, Development and Senior Men’s Finishing the afternoon of action.

The 2026 Finals series will culminate in a female festival of footy, with Hawthorn taking on North Melbourne in the NAB AFLW on Friday 18th of September. 30 minutes post completion, the Chemist Warehouse Women’s Competition Grand Final will take place.

“This is a historic moment for our Women, to play in front of footy fans from across the country and on the same stage as the Elite. This opportunity recognises the importance in linking community sport with elite sport. Having the Curtain Closer for our AFLCW Grand Final is a fantastic opportunity, a first across the Nation and one we are incredibly proud to work closely with Hawthorn and the AFL on, to bring to life.” – Brad Channon, AFL Cairns Football Operations Manager.

“This is a really special opportunity for women’s football in Cairns. For our fans, it creates a genuine festival of women’s football, with the chance to watch the very best players in the country and then stay to see our best local women compete for a premiership under lights at Cazalys Stadium.

“For our local players, the opportunity to play their Grand Final on the same stage and on the same night as an AFLW fixture is something they’ll remember for a long time. With women’s and girls’ participation growing by more than 30 per cent since Hawthorn began playing in Cairns, it’s a great way to celebrate how far the game has come and showcase the pathway from community football to the elite level.” – Craig Lees, AFL Cairns General Manager

Patrons who purchase a ticket to the AFLW/AFLCW, will have free entry to the 2026 AFL Cairns Grand Final on Saturday the 19th of September. Action will get underway from 2pm with the Development Grand Final, while the Senior Men will kick off at 5.15pm, closing out an incredible 2026 Season.

Football Operations Manager