The 2026 NPLW Victoria season is set to be the biggest and best season yet, with 14 teams set to take part in an expanded 26 round season.
For the first time in NPL Victoria history, both the Men and Women seasons will kick-off simultaneously on Friday, February 13 and the season will culminate in a six team finals series.
The NPLW returns in spectacular fashion, with Box Hill United beginning their championship defence against Essendon Royals, newly promoted Keilor Park starting their top-flight campaign against Spring Hills, and Bentleigh Greens taking on South Melbourne.
The opening Saturday of the season sees the remainder of the competition kick off their 2026 campaigns, with Avondale FC, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City all playing their first NPLW matches.
2026 NPLW Victoria Fixture
There’s been plenty of movement across the NPLW ahead of 2026, with some of the league’s biggest stars set to wear new colours.
Former South Melbourne captain Akeisha Sandhu has joined Essendon Royals, Boroondara Eagles’ ex-captain Hayley Guerts moves to Heidelberg United, Mindy Barbieri heads to South Melbourne, and Maja Markovski returns to Bulleen Lions after a year at Spring Hills. Japanese playmaker Asuka Miyata has also switched clubs, moving from Heidelberg to Avondale.
The three promoted sides will also inject plenty of new talent into the league. Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City have bolstered their squads with young stars, predominantly from the FV Academy. Meanwhile, Avondale’s entry into the NPLW brings former Gold Medal winner Kurea Okino back to the competition, alongside Matildas Beattie Goad and Elise Kellond-Knight.
2026 NPLW Victoria Off-Season Central
This season, fans of the NPLW can look forward to the return of Team of the Week, Goal of the Week, Player of the Month, and the introduction of the Rising Star monthly nominees.
The Rising Star monthly nomination is determined by the player who receives the most commentary votes each month. These monthly winners then form the shortlist for the NPLW Rising Star of the Year (U20) award.
2026 NPLW AWARDS
- Gold Medal: (2025 winners: Aleksandra Sinclair (Spring Hills FC) & Danella Butrus (FC Bulleen Lions)
- Players' Player: (2025 winner: Keely Lockhart (Heidelberg United FC)
- Golden Boot: (2025 winner Sawa Matsuda (Heidelberg United FC)
- Goalkeeper of the Year: (2025 winner: Payton Woodward (Brunswick Juventus FC)
- NPLW GF Best on Ground Medal: (2025 winner: Carina Rossi (Box Hill United FC)
- Coach of the Year: (2025 winner: Dennis Georgakopoulos (Heidelberg United FC)
- Goal of the Year: (2025 winner: Danella Butrus (FC Bulleen Lions)
- NPLW Media Player of the Year: (2025 winner: Danella Butrus (FC Bulleen Lions)
- Best Young Player of the Year
- Team of the Season