The nation’s top players and rising stars will be on show for the 2026 season of the Australian Waterpolo League (AWL), kicking off on 15-19 January 2026.
This year’s season will feature an exciting new structure of five rounds across 10 weeks. Each round will run over a four-day weekend from Thursday to Sunday with a one week break between.
Water Polo Australia CEO Tim Welsford is elated to see the AWL return with a new approach that is set to deliver thrilling action for fans.
“As the premier domestic competition, the AWL continues to elevate with a competitive new structure that sees more matches across the same weekends across the country.
“The AWL is a fantastic platform for the next generation of Australian players to grow and evolve alongside our current Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Stingers athletes. This competition plays a pivotal role in inspiring emerging talent and continuing to develop our high performance teams to go toe-to-toe with the world’s best,” Welsford said.
The season-deciding moments in the AWL Finals Series will take place at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on 26-29 March 2026, where Australia’s top men’s and women’s teams will be crowned.
The AWL Final Series serves as an entree to the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals to be held at the same venue from 22-26 July 2026.
“Having the AWL finals as the lead-in event to the World Cup Finals is an exciting opportunity for our sport, athletes and fans to see world-class water polo action. With the event taking place in a pool that saw tremendous success at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, it’s the perfect event to showcase the elite of our sport in the lead up to Brisbane 2032,” Welsford said.
In the women’s division, back-to-back champions Griffith Uni Queensland Thunder will kick off their campaign for a three-peat against the Hunter Hurricanes at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre. The 2025 champions in the men’s division, UNSW Wests Magpies, will start their season on the road against the Victorian Phoenix at Caulfield Grammar School.
The 2026 AWL season will also feature an Indigenous Round from 12-15 March 2026.
Click hereto view the fixtures and results of the 2026 Australian Waterpolo League.
