The All Blacks will play four home test matches next year as part of a 17-match schedule, kicking off the season at Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium.
Scott Robertson’s side will open the 2026 season against France on July 4 in the first match of the new 12-team Nations Championship competition.
The All Blacks then host Italy at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on Saturday, July 11 with a family friendly 5.10pm kick-off, while Eden Park in Auckland will host Ireland Saturday, July 18 and Australia on Saturday, October 10 in the first of the two annual Bledisloe Cup tests.
The All Blacks had six home tests this year but the change to the Nations Championships removes the option for a three-test series in July while the Rugby Championship takes a one-year hiatus as the All Blacks tour South Africa.
The season opener will mark the All Blacks’ first test at a large, permanent stadium in Canterbury since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake ended the Lancaster Park era.
Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium and FMG Stadium in Hamilton miss out on tests in 2026. Both venues hosted tests against France in July while Dunedin has held a test four of the last five years.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said the first test of the year would be a significant moment for rugby.
“For the All Blacks to play at the new One New Zealand stadium 15 years after the earthquakes will be a special moment for the team and a significant occasion for rugby at the start of a new era for the international game.
“Hosting France, Italy and Ireland in consecutive weeks will be new for our players and it creates three unique match experiences for fans in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland as we kick off the Nations Championship era.
“The Bledisloe Cup is a hugely important trophy to the All Blacks, as is the team’s record at Eden Park, and our home fans will no doubt play their part again in the tests against Ireland and Australia.”
Italy will play their first test in Wellington and fourth in New Zealand since the two side’s first met in their opening pool match at the 1987 Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks 52 test unbeaten streak at Eden Park will be on the line twice in 2026, first against Ireland, then against an Australian team trying to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
Ireland’s visit to Eden Park will be their fourth in New Zealand since their first trip to New Zealand in 1976. They have never won at Eden Park and only twice in New Zealand, but the rivalry between the teams has been evenly matched in recent years with the All Blacks winning six of the past 10 tests.
“Playing at home will always be special to the All Blacks and to host three Northern Hemisphere nations in consecutive weeks is a great start to our 2026 campaign and a challenge we will embrace. It will be an historic occasion for Christchurch at the new stadium,“ said All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.
“We know Italy will be highly motivated as we start the Nations Championship and, as always, we will walk towards the challenge of defending our record at Eden Park against Ireland and Australia.”
Through August-September the All Blacks will embark on Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) historic tour of South Africa, including four tests against the Springboks, and four mid-week fixtures against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship teams.
The Bledisloe Cup home and away series will run over two weeks in October, while there are three additional Nations Championship fixtures in November against Wales, Scotland and England as well as the tournament Finals Weekend in London from 27-29 November GMT.
Times in NZT
Nations Championship - home
Saturday July 4, All Blacks v France, One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch, 7.10pm
Saturday July 11, All Blacks v Italy, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 5.10pm
Saturday July 18, All Blacks v Ireland, Eden Park, Auckland, TBC
Greatest Rivalry Tour
Saturday August 8, All Blacks v Stormers, DHL Stadium, Cape Town, TBC
Wednesday August 12, All Blacks v Sharks, Kings Park, Durban, TBC
Sunday August 16, All Blacks v Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, TBC
Sunday August 23, All Blacks v South Africa, Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, TBC
Wednesday August 26, All Blacks v Lions, Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, TBC
Sunday August 30, All Blacks v South Africa, DHL Stadium, Cape Town, TBC
Sunday September 6, All Blacks v South Africa, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, TBC
Sunday September 13, All Blacks v South Africa, Venue TBC, TBC
Bledisloe Cup
Saturday October 10, All Blacks v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland, 7.10pm.
Saturday October 17, All Blacks v Australia, Accor Stadium, Sydney, TBC
Nations Championship - away
Sunday November 8, All Blacks v Scotland, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, TBC
Sunday November 15, All Blacks v Wales, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, TBC
Sunday November 22, All Blacks v England, Twickenham Stadium, London, TBC
Nations Championship playoff match, TBC