AFL Victoria has announced the V/Line Cup will return to the Gippsland region in 2026, with the annual representative carnival last held in the area in 2018.
Latrobe City Council will host more than 600 players, officials and their families across the three-day event, with the 77th edition of the V/Line Cup scheduled from Monday, September 21 to Wednesday, September 23.
The region has a strong track record of hosting the carnival between 2015 and 2018, delivering an economic boost of more than $9 million to the local community.
Key venues — Traralgon Recreation Reserve, Morwell Recreation Reserve and Ted Summerton Reserve in Moe — have undergone significant upgrades in recent years, positioning them to deliver an enhanced experience in 2026 and beyond.
The V/Line Cup is the premier representative football competition for Victorian boys and girls aged under 15, with many participants progressing to elite levels of the game.
Latrobe City has produced a number of top-level footballers, including Carlton’s Ben Ainsworth (Morwell), Gold Coast’s Bailey Humphrey (Moe), and Collingwood’s Amber Schutte and Tim Membrey, who both came through the Traralgon Football Club.
The wider Gippsland region has also produced high-profile talent, including 2025 AFL Draft number one pick Willem Duursma (West Coast Eagles), alongside siblings Zane (North Melbourne), Yasmin (Carlton) and Xavier (Essendon), all from Foster, and 2024 AFLW number one draft pick Ash Centra (Collingwood) from Sale.
First played in the Goulburn Murray region in 1949, the V/Line Cup features three divisions — two boys and one girls — with teams representing AFL Victoria Country regions.
In 2026, the competition will feature a reduced number of teams, with AFL Goulburn Murray and AFL North East Border combining to compete as the Murray Bushrangers in each division. The change aligns V/Line Cup regions with the six AFL Talent League clubs many players will progress to.
Each team will play two matches during the carnival, with a total of 18 matches scheduled across the three days.
AFL Victoria head Greg Madigan said the V/Line Cup remained a key event on the football calendar.
“I’m thrilled to see the V/Line Cup return to Gippsland, with recently upgraded facilities and a dedicated local community ensuring a fantastic experience for all involved,” he said.
V/Line chief executive officer Will Tieppo said Gippsland was a fitting host.
“It’s a strong football heartland, and Traralgon is a key hub on the V/Line network, with more than 100 extra services added over the past year,” he said.
All matches will be live streamed, with further details to be released via the AFL Victoria website.
