AFL Finals 2026 in Ubud: Full Schedule for the New Wildcard Format
The biggest change to AFL finals in 25 years is happening right now — here's how it works, and where to watch every match live in Ubud
If the AFL finals feel a little different this year, that's because they are. For the first time since the year 2000, the AFL has changed how its finals series works — and the change is a big one. Instead of the usual top-8 system, 2026 introduces a brand new Wildcard Round, expanding finals contention from eight teams to ten. It's the biggest shake-up to AFL finals football in a generation, and if you're watching from Ubud, it means there's more finals football to enjoy than ever before. At The Melting Pot Saloon, we're showing every match of the 2026 AFL Finals Series live, with sound on and the full commentary, right through to the Grand Final on September 26. Here's exactly how the new format works, what's happened so far, and when to catch every remaining match in Bali time
How the New AFL Finals 2026 Format Works
Under the old system, the top 8 teams after the home-and-away season went straight into finals, with a bye week built in beforehand. For 2026, that bye week has been replaced with a Wildcard Round, and the cutoff for finals contention has moved from 8th to 10th on the ladder
Here's the breakdown: the top 6 teams after the home-and-away season go straight through to the finals proper and earn a week off. The 7th-placed team hosts the 10th-placed team, and the 8th-placed team hosts the 9th-placed team, in two straight knockout Wildcard Finals. Win, and your season continues. Lose, and it's over. Whichever wildcard winner finished higher on the original ladder takes the 7th seed into the next round; the other takes the 8th seed. From there, the format reverts to the traditional finals structure everyone already knows — Qualifying Finals, Elimination Finals, Semi-Finals, Preliminary Finals, and the Grand Final
It's a genuine top-10 system now, not just a top-8 with extra steps, and it's already produced one of its intended effects: real jeopardy for the middle of the ladder, and a shot at the finals for two teams who wouldn't have made it under the old rules.
What's Happened So Far in the 2026 AFL Finals
The Wildcard Round delivered exactly the drama the AFL was hoping for. In Wildcard Final One, Melbourne hosted Carlton at the MCG — and despite Melbourne's strong early-season form, Carlton fought back from behind to book their spot in the next round, ending Melbourne's season on the spot. In Wildcard Final Two, the Western Bulldogs held off a determined Collingwood outfit in a tense 96-93 finish at the same venue.
Because the Western Bulldogs finished higher on the original ladder than Carlton, they carried the higher wildcard seed into Week 2 — meaning Carlton, as the lower-ranked wildcard winner, drew a tough assignment against Geelong, while the Western Bulldogs travelled to take on Adelaide.
2026 AFL Finals Schedule — Bali Time (WITA)
All AFL finals broadcasts run on Australian time zones, so here's the full schedule converted to Bali local time. Sydney and Melbourne venues sit a clean 2 hours ahead of Bali right through the finals series, since Australian daylight saving doesn't begin until after the Grand Final has been played. Perth runs on the same time as Bali, and Adelaide sits 1.5 hours ahead.
Round | Match | Date | AEST | Bali Time (WITA) |
Wildcard Final 1 | Melbourne vs Carlton (Carlton won) | August 29, 2026 | 7:35pm | 5:35pm |
Wildcard Final 2 | Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood (Bulldogs won) | August 29, 2026 | 7:40pm | 5:40pm |
Qualifying Final 1 | Fremantle vs Hawthorn | Thursday, 3 Setember,2026 | 8:10pm | 6:10pm |
Elimination Final 1 | Geelong vs Carlton | Friday, 4 September, 2026 | 7:40pm | 5:40pm |
Qualifying Final 2 | Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions | Saturday, 5 September, 2026 | 3:15pm | 1:15pm |
Elimination Final 2 | Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs | Saturday, 5 September, 2026 | 7:35pm | 5:35pm |
Semi-Finals | TBD based on Week 2 results | Mid-September | TBD | |
Preliminary Finals | TBD based on Semi-Final results | Late September | TBD | |
Grand Final | TBD | 2:30pm, Sat 26 Sep | 12:30pm | |
We'll keep this schedule updated as the Semi-Final and Preliminary Final matchups are confirmed. In the meantime, follow @themeltingpot.saloon on Instagram for exact match nights and any last-minute time confirmations.
The Road to the Grand Final — September 26
Everything builds to Saturday, September 26, when the last two teams standing meet at the MCG for the 2026 AFL Grand Final. Kick-off is 2:30pm AEST, which lands at a very saloon-friendly 12:30pm in Bali — an early afternoon start rather than a late-night one, making it easy to plan a proper day around it. Whoever makes it through this new, tougher ten-team format will have earned their place in the Grand Final more than any premiership team in the last 25 years of the competition
Why Watch the AFL Finals 2026 In Ubud at The Melting Pot Saloon
Finals footy deserves better than a muted TV in the corner of a cafe. At The Melting Pot Saloon, every AFL finals 2026 match is shown in Ubud with the sound on and full commentary — across multiple screens plus a full projector setup, so there's no bad seat in the house regardless of how busy it gets.
Between matches, or if two finals overlap on the same night, there's plenty to keep you occupied: 10 pool tables, snooker, darts, shuffleboard, and axe throwing, alongside 19 craft beers on tap — the largest craft beer selection in Ubud. Add in a Texas-style food menu built for a long finals night, and you've got everything you need to watch this new-look finals series properly, from the Wildcard Round all the way to the final siren at the MCG.
We're open daily from 10:30am to 2am, covering everything from Sydney's early-afternoon qualifying finals to the latest Saturday night matches at the MCG
The Melting Pot Saloon
Jl. Raya Pengosekan (Hanoman) No. 22X, Ubud, Bali
Open daily 10:30AM – 2AM
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