State of Origin involvement was not announced yet, but SA hopes to participate following the WA–Victoria revival, with a decision expected soon.

Gather Round in South Australia will be extended for three more years, keeping the festival in Adelaide through 2029 after negotiations between AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon lauded the event’s growth, pointing to sold-out stadiums, the Macca’s Footy Festival, the Norwood parade, and related activities that have boosted engagement and regional benefits.

Dillon expressed confidence in Gather Round’s ongoing growth and its status as a premier national sporting event, thanking the South Australian Government for the partnership.

At the time of the announcement, specific dates and ground allocations for next year were not finalized.

Photos surfaced of a timely meeting at the MCG involving Essendon figures, sparking speculation about influence on the club’s coaching search.

New attendance records highlighted by Geelong vs. West Coast at Norwood Oval and North Melbourne vs. Brisbane at Barossa Park, underscoring growing interest.

A new feature for 2027 Gather Round will be a player parade, with all 18 clubs participating to engage fans.

Next year’s Gather Round will introduce the player parade as a marquee element, with broader festivities across the festival.

Future Gather Rounds are planned to include a Friday afternoon street parade with players and coaches from all clubs and an AFL Hall of Fame function.

The extension follows the record-breaking 270,000-plus attendance for the 2024 Festival of Footy in Adelaide and surrounding areas.

This year’s Gather Round drew over 270,000 fans, reflecting its success compared with previous Opening Round experiments, and building on a record festival in April 2026.