New Zealand Rugby has officially unveiled one of the most anticipated and demanding All Blacks calendars in history, announcing a 2026 schedule packed with 17 matches โ including 13 high-stakes Tests โ across multiple continents. The season marks the dawn of the new 12 Nations Championship, a global competition set to reshape international rugby. And the All Blacks will open this new era on home soil in spectacular fashion.
The campaign kicks off Saturday, 4 July, under the roof of the brand-new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, a 30,000-seat modern fortress built after the devastating earthquakes. The opening Test against France is already being hailed as a landmark moment for the region and the sport. NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson described it as a deeply significant milestone.
โFor the All Blacks to play at the new stadium 15 years after the earthquakes will be a special moment for the team and a significant occasion for rugby,โ Robinson said. โHosting France, Italy and Ireland in consecutive weeks creates three unique match experiences for fans as we kick off the Nations Championship era.โ
Wellington will host Italy on 11 July โ the Italiansโ first Test in the capital and only their fourth in New Zealand since the teamsโ meeting at the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup. A week later, on 18 July, Ireland arrive at Eden Park, a venue where they have never tasted victory. But recent battles between the sides have been fierce: the All Blacks have won six of the last 10 Tests, creating one of rugbyโs most compelling rivalries.
Eden Park, where the All Blacks boast an extraordinary 52-Test unbeaten streak, will face its sternest defence in years โ twice. First against Ireland, then Australia, who havenโt lifted the Bledisloe Cup since 2002. With national pride, decades-long streaks and championship points all on the line, Octoberโs clash with the Wallabies promises to be explosive.
Head Coach Scott Robertson welcomed the challenge.
โPlaying at home will always be special, and hosting three Northern Hemisphere nations back-to-back is a great start to 2026,โ he said. โItaly will be highly motivated, and defending our Eden Park record against Ireland and Australia is a challenge weโll walk toward.โ
After their home series, the All Blacks embark on a historic South Africa tour across AugustโSeptember: four Tests against the Springboks and four mid-week matches against United Rugby Championship sides โ one of the most demanding tours in modern rugby history.
The season closes with more Nations Championship clashes in November against Wales, Scotland and England, before the Finals Weekend in London from 27โ29 November.
With new rivalries, historic venues, massive tours and the dawn of a new global competition, the All Blacksโ 2026 season promises drama, intensity and rugby history in the making.
