The ONE Active Hockey League is set for its biggest and most exciting season yet, with the 2026 fixture delivering a bold new era for Australia’s premier domestic hockey competition.
Building on the momentum of a strong 2025 campaign, the upcoming season will feature a series of major innovations designed to elevate the competition, expand its footprint and bring more world-class hockey to fans across Australia and the world.
The 2026 season will officially get underway on October 8th, when the Canberra Chill host the Adelaide Fire in the national capital, launching what promises to be the League’s biggest season to date.
Headlining the changes is the introduction of the Melbourne Cobras, who will make their highly anticipated debut as the League’s eighth club. Their inclusion marks a significant milestone in the competition’s growth, expanding the League beyond the seven-team format used in previous seasons.
In a further boost to the schedule, the 2026 season will feature an expanded fixture, with each team set to play additional matches across the campaign, ensuring more opportunities for players to perform and fans to engage with the competition.
For the first time in League history, there will be no bye rounds, creating a continuous, high-energy schedule from start to finish and ensuring every week delivers blockbuster double-header action featuring both men’s and women’s teams.
Hockey One Executive Manager Sash Herceg said the fixture release marked an exciting milestone ahead of the 2026 season.
“As always, it’s fantastic to launch the Hockey One season fixture. It is the first opportunity for our fans to see what’s in store for this year’s competition and start planning their weekends in October and November,” Herceg said.
“We look forward to working with all stakeholders to bring all games live and free on 7plus locally in Australia and on Hockey One Global Pass internationally.”
The expanded fixture also strengthens the League’s commitment to regional and community engagement, with hockey returning to key locations across the country.
Bendigo will once again host ONE Active Hockey League action, with the Melbourne Cobras set to take a home game to regional Victoria, marking the League’s return to the city for the first time since the 2022 Finals Series.
In New South Wales, the NSW Pride will return to Newcastle, with Rounds 2 and 7 to be played at the Newcastle International Hockey Centre in Broadmeadow, bringing the ONE Active Hockey League back to one of the state’s key hockey hubs.
On the field, the 2026 fixture is stacked with must-watch matchups, including the first-ever Melbourne derby in Round 3, as Hockey Club Melbourne and the Melbourne Cobras go head-to-head in what promises to become one of the League’s fiercest rivalries.
Fans will also be treated to a series of Grand Final rematches throughout the season, including a women’s championship rematch between Hockey Club Melbourne and the Perth Thundersticks in Round 2, while in the men’s competition Hockey Club Melbourne and the Tassie Tigers will again face off in Round 5 following their 2025 decider.
The ONE Active Hockey League continues to showcase the best of Australian hockey, with double-header matchdays featuring both men’s and women’s teams played across major venues nationwide in a fast-paced, fan-friendly format.
With an expanded competition, new rivalries and more games than ever before, the 2026 ONE Active Hockey League season is set to be the biggest yet, delivering a bold new chapter for the League and an unmissable experience for fans around the country.
The location for the 2026 ONE Active Hockey League Finals Series will be announced soon.
