Thousands of excited Bulldogs fans and members are set to take over Mission Whitten Oval for the Club's 2026 Fan Fest this Saturday. 

Kicking off at 9am on January 24, members and fans of all ages will come together to officially celebrate the start of the 2026 AFL season.

A short training session will kick things off before an opportunity for player autographs, while the super-sized fan zone will be buzzing with footy activities, face-painting, a rock-climbing wall, puppy cuddles and loads more. 

The atmosphere will be buzzing in the super-sized fan zone, where fans can test their footy skills, get their face painted, scale the rock-climbing wall, snap a photo with our mascots or Premiership cups, cuddle a puppy, score a free giveaway, plus loads more.

If that’s not enough, fans can also snap a photo with Club mascots and the premiership cups, score a free giveaway or be among the first to get their hands on this year’s merch from the Bulldogs Shop.

Plus, the membership team will be on hand to ensure every Bulldogs member is sorted for the season ahead. 

The day’s activities will conclude with the official 2026 team guernsey presentation.

If you’re a Bulldogs fan, Fan Fest 2026 is a day you won’t want to miss. Tell us you’re coming by RSVPing here.

2026 Fan Fest

Where: Mission Whitten Oval
When: 9am-12pm
Price: FREE
What’s on:

  • 2026 guernsey presentation

  • Hear from captain Marcus Bontempelli and senior coach Luke Beveridge

  • Player signings and photo opportunities

  • Prizes, free giveaways and face-painting

  • Roving entertainment and mascots

  • Inflatables, obstacle course, rock-climbing wall, carnival games

  • Photos with the Premiership cups

  • Puppy cuddles and pics

  • 2026 merchandise and memberships on sale

Food & Beverage

  • ALFA Café

  • Footscray Rotary Club Sausage Sizzle

  • Peppe’s Burger truck

  • Ice cream truck

  • Popcorn and snow cones

Getting there

Please note that the Mission Whitten Oval car park will be closed to the public. Limited street parking will be available in the surrounding streets.

The best way to access the ground is via train to West Footscray Station on the Sunbury line. Plan your journey ahead of time using the PTV Journey Planner. 

Entry

Mission Whitten Oval can be accessed via the following gates:

  • Gate 1 – Barkly Street

  • Gate 2 – Whitten Avenue

  • Gate 3 – Cross Street

Please note: Mission Whitten Oval will also be closed to the public from 5pm, Friday 23 January until 9am, Saturday 24 January.