AFL Landscape 2026: Exactly How Many Australian Football Teams Are Competing This Season?

As of August 13, 2026, the professional sporting landscape in Australia remains dominated by the Australian Football League (AFL), which currently fields 18 elite teams. While the league is on the precipice of a historic expansion, the 2026 season has proceeded with the traditional 18-club format that has defined the competition since 2012. However, the answer to "how many australian football teams are there" often depends on whether a fan is looking at the AFL, the NRL, or the rapidly growing A-League Men’s competition.

The National Footprint: Understanding the 18-Club AFL Hierarchy

The current 18-team AFL structure represents a balance between the league’s Victorian roots and its national aspirations. Of these 18 teams, 10 are based in Victoria, largely concentrated in the Melbourne metropolitan area. This high density creates a unique "home-and-away" dynamic where the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Marvel Stadium serve as neutral territory for several tenant clubs. The remaining eight teams are split evenly across Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland.

In 2026, the competitive balance among these teams has never been tighter. The "interstate" clubs—specifically the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions—have maintained their status as perennial powerhouses, challenging the traditional Victorian "Big Four" (Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond, and Essendon). This geographical spread ensures that every weekend of the 2026 season features professional Australian Rules football in every mainland state, driving record-breaking attendance figures and club membership numbers that have surpassed the 1.3 million mark league-wide.

The internal hierarchy of these teams is managed through a strict salary cap and draft system designed to prevent any single club from dominating the landscape indefinitely. As we approach the 2026 Finals Series, the focus remains on which of these 18 clubs can manage the fatigue of a 23-round season to secure a spot in the top eight.

Prime Time Access: Broadcast Rights and Digital Streaming in 2026

For fans asking how to follow these teams, the 2026 season marks a significant era in sports media accessibility. Under the current billion-dollar broadcast deal, the Seven Network, Foxtel, and Kayo Sports provide comprehensive coverage of all 18 AFL teams. Notably, 2026 is the second year where the Seven Network has provided full digital streaming rights for its matches via 7plus, removing the traditional barrier for "cord-cutters" who previously relied on expensive cable subscriptions.

Accessing the game is no longer limited to linear television. Each of the 18 teams operates extensive digital platforms offering:

• Live Player Tracking: Real-time data feeds through official club apps.
• AFL On-Demand: Replays of every match available immediately after the final siren.
• Membership Portals: Digital ticketing systems that have completely replaced paper tickets for the 2026 season.

For the NRL’s 17 teams and the A-League’s 13 teams, the broadcast landscape is equally robust, with Nine and Paramount+ providing the primary gateways for fans. The "multi-code" nature of Australian sports means that during this winter peak in August, hundreds of professional athletes are taking the field across more than 40 professional football organizations nationwide.

The 19th License and Beyond: Tasmania’s Entry and the 20-Team Vision

While there are currently 18 teams in the AFL, the question of "how many australian football teams are there" will soon have a new answer. The Tasmania Devils are deep into their administrative and infrastructure phase, with a confirmed entry into the AFL competition slated for the 2028 season. In 2026, the Devils have already begun signing foundational staff and launching academy programs, though they do not yet compete for premiership points.

The introduction of Tasmania as the 19th team has sparked intense debate regarding a 20th license. League officials have hinted throughout the 2026 season that an even-numbered competition is preferable to avoid the "bye" round complications introduced by a 19-team league. Speculation currently centers on a third team in Western Australia or a second team based in Canberra.

For now, the focus remains on the current 18-team sprint toward the 2026 Grand Final. As the AFL continues to evolve, the footprint of the game is expanding not just in the number of teams, but in the depth of the talent pool and the sophistication of the stadiums they call home. The next two years will be a transitional period as the league prepares to move from its long-standing 18-club era into a new 20-team national powerhouse.