THE AFL is pleased to confirm the schedule for the AFL Community Camps program ahead of the 2026 Toyota AFL Season, with teams heading to regional communities across the country this summer.
The AFL Community Camps program involves visits to junior football clubs, schools and hospitals, where AFL players take part in footy clinics and attend community events. Every year, more than 700 AFL players engage with fans, celebrate community heroes and inspire the next generation.
Melbourne will be the first team to conduct their Community Camp again this year, with the Demons paying a visit to Bright and the surrounding Alpine regions next week from November 24, with Richmond following closely behind with a visit to Yarrawonga on November 25.
In the first week of December, the Sydney Swans will visit Newcastle whilst North Melbourne’s squad will be split between Echuca and Wyndham.
Collingwood, Essendon, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs will cover significant ground in regional Victoria before Christmas, with visits to Ballarat, Moe, Morwell, Traralgon, Bendigo and South Gippsland in mid-December.
Community camps will continue in late January and early February, with Brisbane visiting the Sunshine Coast, Darling Downs and Western Corridor, whilst the GWS GIANTS will cover substantial ground in the ACT and southern NSW.
AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said the AFL Community Camps are one of the many ways the AFL engages with communities to achieve the AFL’s vision for everyone to love and connect with Australia's game.
“The AFL Community Camp program is something players and clubs look forward to each year, as an opportunity to give back to local communities and engage with fans and newcomers, young and old,” Auld said.
"Many of our game’s greatest players began their football journeys at small local clubs kept afloat by dedicated volunteers, and the purpose of these camps is for our elite AFL players to give back to those people and inspire the next generation.
“By visiting remote and regional areas, these camps provide children the chance to meet their heroes up close, or to be introduced to the game for the first time through clinics, school and hospital visits, which helps to ensure Australian football is accessible to everyone.
"I’d like to thank all the clubs, players and staff who help coordinate and deliver the AFL Community Camps each and every year. They play a vital part in bringing our game to all corners of Australia as we strive to have footy in every home."
The AFL Community Camp program has been running since 2003, engaging with more than one million children during school and club visits across Australia over the past two decades.
2026 AFL Community Camp Schedule
Adelaide - Port Augusta and Surrounds, February 12 – 13, 2026
Brisbane - Sunshine Coast and surrounds, January 27 – 30, 2026. Darling Downs and Western Corridor, February 3, 2026
Carlton - Shepparton, February 5 – 6, 2026
Collingwood - Moe/Morwell/Traralgon, December 10 – 11, 2025
Essendon - Bendigo, December 10 – 11, 2025
Fremantle - Bunbury and Surrounds, February 19 – 23, 2026
Greater Western Sydney - ACT and southern NSW, TBC
Geelong - Warrnambool and surrounds, February 3 – 4, 2026
Gold Coast - Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, Loan, Cairns and Townsville, February 13, 2026
Hawthorn - Launceston, TBC
Melbourne - Bright/Alpine region, November 24 – 25, 2025
North Melbourne - Echuca and Wyndham, December 2 – 3, 2025
Port Adelaide - Loxton, Berri, Renmark, February 9 – 10, 2026
Richmond - Yarrawonga, November 25 – 26, 2025
St Kilda - South Gippsland, December 8 – 9, 2025
Sydney - Newcastle, December 1 – 3, 2025
West Coast - TBC, TBC
Western Bulldogs - Ballarat, Maryborough and surrounds, December 2 – 3, 2025