Published 18 May 2026
Bunbury is preparing to take centre stage when North Melbourne takes on the Fremantle Dockers in Round 13 of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season at Hands Memorial Oval on Saturday 6 June – the second consecutive year the city has hosted elite football on the national stage.
The fixture will see thousands of fans descend on the South West for what has become one of regional Australia’s premier sporting events, reinforcing Bunbury’s growing reputation as a city capable of delivering major events at the highest level.
But for the City of Bunbury, the weekend is about far more than four quarters of football.
The match anchors the Bunbury Big Weekender – a three-day program of community activations, entertainment, and local experiences running from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June across the City Centre, Hands Oval precinct, and Bunbury’s waterfront.
Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said the event represented a significant moment for the city and the broader South West region.
“This isn’t just an AFL match, it’s a statement about what regional cities can deliver,” Mayor Miguel said.
“When the broadcast goes out to millions of viewers on Saturday 6 June, they’ll see a city that’s invested in its future, a community that shows up, and a region that punches well above its weight.
“The Big Weekender is our way of extending that moment beyond the oval – giving visitors a reason to stay, explore, and experience everything Bunbury has to offer, while giving our local businesses and community the opportunity to shine on a national stage.
“We’re incredibly proud to be hosting this for the second year running, and we’re already looking forward to doing it again in 2027.”
The Hands Oval precinct has undergone a dramatic transformation ahead of the match, with temporary grandstands and event infrastructure turning the community sporting ground into a nationally broadcast AFL venue.
The transformation has been made possible through a three-year partnership supported by $5.7 million in State Government investment in the precinct – complementing the $19.5 million already invested in what has become one of regional Western Australia’s most impressive community sporting assets.
“The investment in Hands Oval was always about more than one event or one weekend,” Mayor Miguel said.
“It’s a community facility that serves local sport year-round and delivers something extraordinary on a national scale when the opportunity arises. That’s the return on investment our community deserves.”
Bunbury Big Weekender | 5 to 7 June
The Bunbury Big Weekender extends the match-day experience into a city-wide celebration, with activations designed to drive visitation, support local businesses, and showcase Bunbury as a vibrant regional destination.
Friday 5 June
- Free AFL Captain’s Runs at Hands Oval – North Melbourne and Fremantle Dockers (open to public)
- Triple M live broadcast from Intersport Bunbury with footy giveaways
- Pre-game atmosphere across the City Centre with yarn bombing along Victoria Street, shopfront decorations, and local venue activations
Saturday 6 June
- AFL Premiership Season – North Melbourne vs Fremantle Dockers, Hands Memorial Oval
- Pre-game precinct activations including mascots, merchandise, and a Tourism WA pop-up produce experience featuring local Bunbury-Geographe producers – bringing the region’s best food and drink to the national stage
- Post-match celebrations across Bunbury’s City Centre venues
Sunday 7 June
- Bunbury’s Big Weekender Breakfast at Koolambidi Woola youth precinct (9am to 12pm)
- Kick across the Inlet – community football challenge with prize
- Family activities including wheelchair basketball demonstration, live music, food and coffee vans
Bunbury’s hosting of AFL has built rapidly since the historic first Premiership match in regional Western Australia in June 2025, when North Melbourne took on West Coast in front of a capacity crowd at Hands Oval.
In March 2025, the AAMI Community Cup pre-season match attracted 7000 fans to watch North Melbourne face West Coast Eagles, further cementing the city’s credentials as a major event destination.
The 2026 Premiership match represents the continuation of a three-year agreement to host AFL matches at Hands Oval through to 2027.
What this means for regional WA The AFL fixture and Big Weekender are expected to deliver significant economic benefit to the Bunbury-Geographe region, with an estimated 2000 visitors travelling from outside the region.
This year, the Tourism WA pop-up produce experience at the match will spotlight local Bunbury-Geographe producers, putting the region’s food, drink, and hospitality offering in front of a national audience.
“It’s not just about the footy – it’s about showing the thousands of visitors and the millions watching at home what this region produces,” Mayor Miguel said.
“From the oval to the plate, this weekend is a showcase for everything the Bunbury-Geographe region has to offer.”
The weekend supports the City’s strategic objectives to build awareness and recognition of Bunbury as a great place to live, work, study, holiday, play, and invest, while attracting diversified investment and developing a competitive tourism offer.
“Events like this don’t just happen, they take years of investment, planning, and community support,” Mayor Miguel said.
Event Details
Event: 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season – Round 13
Match: North Melbourne vs Fremantle Dockers
Date: Saturday 6 June 2026
Venue: Hands Memorial Oval, Bunbury
Big Weekender: Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June 2026