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Bunbury is preparing to take centre stage when North Melbourne takes on the Fremantle Dockers in Round 13 of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season at Hands Memorial Oval on Saturday 6 June – the second consecutive ye...
The fixture will see thousands of fans descend on the South West for what has become one of regional Australia’s premier sporting events, reinforcing Bunbury’s growing reputation as a city capable of delivering major events at the highest level.
But for the City of Bunbury, the weekend is about far more than four quarters of football.
The match anchors the Bunbury Big Weekender – a three-day program of community activations, entertainment, and local experiences running from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June across the City Centre, Hands Oval precinct, and Bunbury’s waterfront.
Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said the event represented a significant moment for the city and the broader South West region.
“This isn’t just an AFL match, it’s a statement about what regional cities can deliver,” Mayor Miguel said.
“When the broadcast goes out to millions of viewers on Saturday 6 June, they’ll see a city that’s invested in its future, a community that shows up, and a region that punches well above its weight.
“The Big Weekender is our way of extending that moment beyond the oval – giving visitors a reason to stay, explore, and experience everything Bunbury has to offer, while giving our local businesses and community the opportunity to shine on a national stage.
“We’re incredibly proud to be hosting this for the second year running, and we’re already looking forward to doing it again in 2027.”
The Hands Oval precinct has undergone a dramatic transformation ahead of the match, with temporary grandstands and event infrastructure turning the community sporting ground into a nationally broadcast AFL venue.
The transformation has been made possible through a three-year partnership supported by $5.7 million in State Government investment in the precinct – complementing the $19.5 million already invested in what has become one of regional Western Australia’s most impressive community sporting assets.
“The investment in Hands Oval was always about more than one event or one weekend,” Mayor Miguel said.
“It’s a community facility that serves local sport year-round and delivers something extraordinary on a national scale when the opportunity arises. That’s the return on investment our community deserves.”
BunburyCommunityCityOvalHands
The fixture will see thousands of fans descend on the South West for what has become one of regional Australia’s premier sporting events, reinforcing Bunbury’s growing reputation as a city capable of delivering major events at the highest level.
But for the City of Bunbury, the weekend is about far more than four quarters of football.
The match anchors the Bunbury Big Weekender – a three-day program of community activations, entertainment, and local experiences running from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June across the City Centre, Hands Oval precinct, and Bunbury’s waterfront.
Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said the event represented a significant moment for the city and the broader South West region.
“This isn’t just an AFL match, it’s a statement about what regional cities can deliver,” Mayor Miguel said.
“When the broadcast goes out to millions of viewers on Saturday 6 June, they’ll see a city that’s invested in its future, a community that shows up, and a region that punches well above its weight.
“The Big Weekender is our way of extending that moment beyond the oval – giving visitors a reason to stay, explore, and experience everything Bunbury has to offer, while giving our local businesses and community the opportunity to shine on a national stage.
“We’re incredibly proud to be hosting this for the second year running, and we’re already looking forward to doing it again in 2027.”
The Hands Oval precinct has undergone a dramatic transformation ahead of the match, with temporary grandstands and event infrastructure turning the community sporting ground into a nationally broadcast AFL venue.
The transformation has been made possible through a three-year partnership supported by $5.7 million in State Government investment in the precinct – complementing the $19.5 million already invested in what has become one of regional Western Australia’s most impressive community sporting assets.
“The investment in Hands Oval was always about more than one event or one weekend,” Mayor Miguel said.
“It’s a community facility that serves local sport year-round and delivers something extraordinary on a national scale when the opportunity arises. That’s the return on investment our community deserves.”
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