The draw features 77 round robin matches held across a 16-round regular season before culminating in the six-team Finals Series.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 2026 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC DRAW
The action begins on Friday 13 February with the Crusaders kicking off their title defence in a southern derby against the Highlanders in Dunedin, before Australia’s oldest rivalry takes centre stage as the NSW Waratahs host the Queensland Reds.
The opening round continues on Saturday 14 February as the Fijian Drua meet Moana Pasifika at their fortress in Lautoka, the Blues and Chiefs clash in Auckland and there’s a throwback to the Western Force’s first-ever Super Rugby game as they tackle the ACT Brumbies in Perth.
Super Rugby Pacific will touch down in Tonga for the second time when Moana Pasifika take on the Chiefs at Teufaiva Stadium in Round 9.
Super Round then makes its return over the Anzac weekend in Round 11, with ten teams descending on Ōtautahi Christchurch for the highly anticipated opening of One New Zealand Stadium.
The opening night party on Friday 24 April will see the Crusaders take on the Waratahs, while the competition’s burgeoning Anzac Day rivalries reignite the following day as the Hurricanes face the Brumbies and the Blues tackle the Reds.
The three-day festival of rugby concludes on Sunday 26 April with a double-header featuring the Highlanders against Moana Pasifika and the Chiefs facing Fijian Drua.
Off the field, fan feedback has helped inform a tweak of the ‘lucky loser’ mechanic introduced to the competition's Finals Series last season.
In 2025 the ‘lucky loser’ was penalised one seeding, which saw the top-ranked Chiefs defeated in a Qualifying Final but still host a Semi-Final fixture the following weekend.
However in 2026 the highest ranked losing team from the Qualifying Finals will progress as fourth seed, ensuring they play away from home in the Semi-Finals and also the Grand Final should they qualify.
"In 2025 we saw Super Rugby Pacific take another big step forward, with more fans, more drama, and more unexpected results. That success has set the stage for an even bigger year in 2026 as we mark a milestone in Super Rugby," Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said.
"Thirty years on from the first Super Rugby season, the competition continues to deliver what makes it special – world-class players, high-octane rugby and a connection to communities right across the Pacific.
"The 2026 draw has something for everyone. With Super Round coming to Ōtautahi Christchurch and the full draw now released, it's the perfect time for fans to start planning how they’ll be part of the action."