Latest News About State Of Origin 2026

Here’s a quick update on the latest State of Origin developments for 2026.

• AFL State of Origin return confirmed for 2026: The AFL has announced the State of Origin will return in 2026, with Western Australia (WA) facing Victoria (VIC) on February 14 in Perth. This marks the first Origin clash since 1999 and is part of a broader push to expand representative footy and the football calendar.[2][3][9]
• Venue and format: Perth’s Optus Stadium will host the match as the exclusive venue for the year, signaling a strong emphasis on leveraging interstate matchups to boost attendance and tourism in Western Australia.[2]
• 2027 considerations: In late April 2026, reports indicated a potential shift in format for the following year, including WA vs SA as a likely lineup, though official confirmation focused on 2026’s WA vs VIC clash (details may evolve as the AFL collaborates with clubs and players).[5]
• Related developments in other codes: Beyond AFL, there was ongoing coverage and chatter about State of Origin-style concepts in other leagues (e.g., rugby league’s ongoing Origin debates and lineup discussions for 2026), though these are separate from the AFL’s 2026 plans.[4][8]

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• If you’d like, I can generate a concise one-page visual summary (date, venue, teams, key facts) suitable for sharing with friends or colleagues.

Would you like a short, cited summary you can paste into a chat or email, or a downloadable chart/image that highlights the 2026 WA vs VIC matchup and the upcoming 2027 considerations? I can also pull in more precise match dates, ticketing info, or expected player selections if you’d like.

Citations:

• 2026 Origin return and WA vs VIC in Perth announced[3][2]
• 2027 format discussions and potential WA vs SA as a future variant[5]
• Additional context on Origin-related coverage and timelines[8][9][4]