AFL & NRL Card Release Dates 2026: The Full Calendar
Knowing when cards drop helps you plan — whether you're opening retail packs at season start, buying into group breaks mid-season, or hunting singles on the secondary market after the Brownlow or finals. Here's how the 2026 AFL and NRL release calendar runs, and what's still to come.
When does AFL Footy Stars come out each year?
AFL Footy Stars — Select's annual mass-retail AFL flagship — drops at the start of the AFL season, typically in February or early March. The 2026 release arrived on 31 March 2026 and hit Kmart, Target, 7-Eleven, BP and newsagent shelves at season launch. The 270-card base set covers all 18 AFL clubs, with a tiered hobby insert program running from Luminous /850 parallels up to Silver Blend Refractor Signature Redemptions numbered to 40.
If you're reading this mid-season, Footy Stars retail is already on shelves. The widest availability is at season launch; as the season progresses, mass merchants thin out their allocation, and specialist hobby retailers carry the stock longest. The secondary market for singles opens up from week one.
When does NRL League Heroes come out?
NRL League Heroes — Select's 2026 replacement for TLA's long-running NRL Traders — follows a similar cadence to Footy Stars, landing at the start of the NRL season in early-to-mid March. The 2026 set dropped around the season opener, with approximately 8,200 retail cases at $4 per pack and around 8,400 hobby boxes for the dedicated collector market.
League Heroes is the first Select NRL set since around 2012 — a significant reset after fourteen years of TLA product. The retail base set covers all 17 NRL clubs and all 12 NRLW teams. For a full breakdown of what's in the set and how it compares to Traders, see the NRL League Heroes vs Traders guide.
What premium AFL sets are coming in 2026?
Above Footy Stars, Select releases premium hobby-only AFL lines progressively through the season and post-finals. These are not on Kmart shelves — you buy them from hobby card shops, online card retailers and group breaks. The typical annual slate runs:
- AFL Footy Stars Prestige: an elevated Footy Stars variant with a deeper insert program and lower print runs, typically mid-season.
- AFL Seamless: the patch-and-signature product built around game-worn jumpers from 140-plus players — usually mid-to-late season.
- AFL Supremacy / Eminence: the top-of-the-range sets, known for quad-signatures and ultra-low-numbered chase cards, typically late season or post-finals.
- AFL Premiers: produced after the Grand Final, featuring premiership winners — the last major AFL release of the year, landing October or November.
What premium NRL sets are expected in 2026?
Select's NRL premium lineup for 2026 is still being announced — this is the brand's first year back with the NRL licence after over a decade. Based on the AFL model, expect at least one premium NRL release beyond League Heroes hobby boxes in 2026, likely landing mid-to-late season. The hobby League Heroes boxes already carry the hobby-exclusive TRYumph Black parallel numbered to 50.
For the latest NRL release announcements, Select's official channels and the OzCardTrader community are the fastest sources. Details will firm up as Select builds out the NRL lineup in its first year back.
What are the weekly and mid-season releases to know about?
AFL collecting isn't only about season-start boxes. Two ongoing programs run through the year:
- AFL Hilites: insert cards issued each round featuring key moments and match performances. Collectors who want cards tied to specific games or milestones chase these through the season.
- AFL Rising Star: cards issued during the season to mark emerging young players. A player's Rising Star card can become significant if they win the award or have a breakout year — pull them aside.
- NRL equivalents: Select's NRL program is in its first year back, so watch for mid-season or milestone insert programs to be announced as the season progresses.
When are the major card shows in Australia in 2026?
Card shows are the fastest way to buy and sell in person and find cards that never surface online. The major recurring events in the Australian calendar:
- Hobby Hangout XL (Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building): one of the biggest in the country — the 2025 event sold out.
- CollectFest: runs across multiple cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth throughout the year.
- Oz National (Marvel Stadium, Melbourne): traditionally one of the largest national events.
- Sydney shows: DGCollectables, Collector Con and TCXPO each run events through the year.
How do I stay up to date with card releases?
The most reliable sources: Select Australia's official website and social channels announce upcoming products first. OzCardTrader and BigFooty's card forums carry community discussion and retailer tip-offs quickly. Specialist hobby retailers — Cherry Collectables, Gold Coast Trading Cards, Card Bot and Ja Ja's — post stock alerts when new products arrive.
Worth knowing: retail packs appear in mass merchants first, often before hobby shops have the premium product. For sealed hobby boxes, specialist retailers are the best source. CardLoft tracks Australian card releases and value data across AFL and NRL — photograph any card to check what it's worth before you buy or sell.
Frequently asked questions
When does AFL Footy Stars 2026 come out?
AFL Footy Stars releases at the start of the AFL season — typically February or early March. The 2026 set has already dropped and is on shelves now at Kmart, Target, 7-Eleven, BP and newsagents for $4 a pack.
When does NRL League Heroes 2026 come out?
NRL League Heroes (Select's replacement for TLA's Traders) launched around the start of the NRL season in early-to-mid March 2026. Retail packs are $4 at mass merchants and newsagents; hobby boxes are through specialist card retailers.
Is there a premiership AFL card set?
Yes — Select produces an AFL Premiers set each year after the Grand Final, featuring premiership winners. It's the last major AFL release of the year, typically landing October or November.
Where do I find out about upcoming card releases in Australia?
Select's official channels, OzCardTrader, BigFooty's card sub-forum and specialist retailers like Cherry Collectables and Card Bot are the fastest sources. CardLoft also tracks new Australian releases.