With just six months to go until the start of Rugby League World Cup 2026, it's time to get out the diary and circle the dates for games you simply cannot miss.

From opening night in Sydney on October 15, 2026 when the host nation Australia meet arch-rivals New Zealand through to the World Cup Final in Brisbane on November 15, rugby league fans are in for a month of footy like never before.

5 EPICS NOT TO BE MISSED

Men's Round 1: Australia v New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Thursday 15 October, 8.05pm AEDT

The World Cup kicks off with a Trans-Tasman showdown between 12-time champions Australia and their fierce rivals from across the ditch. Australia have won nine of the past 10 World Cups, their lone miss coming in the 2008 final at Suncorp Stadium when Benji Marshall led the Kiwis to a stunning 34-20 victory. The green and golds took charge again in 2013, 2017 and 2022 and they will be hell bent on getting their title defence off to a flying start in Sydney.

Men's Round 1: England v Tonga at HBF Park, Perth, Saturday 17 October, 8.05pm AEDT

The Ashes series didn't go as planned for England but with a year to build up to the greatest show on turf they'll be primed and ready come RLWC26. With Victor Radley back in the fold and a huge army of travelling fans to back them up, England will look to make an early statement against the rising force that is Tonga. Back in 2023, Tonga played three Tests in England and lost all three, although they are a vastly different proposition now with the likes of Robert Toia, Leka Halasima and Isaiah Iongi all wearing red.

Men's Round 3: Tonga v Samoa at CommBank Stadium, Sunday 1 November, 8.05pm AEDT

Who could forget the scenes at Suncorp Stadium when these two proud nations squared off in a Pacific Championships blockbuster that captivated the league world. The pride. The emotion. The singing. The joy. It was Samoa who prevailed in the end before going on to make the Pacific Cup final and they will fancy their chances again in 2026 with Payne Haas leading from the front in a titanic battle against Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo and co. At the 2022 World Cup in England it was Samoa also prevailing 20-18 in a thriller so the stage is set for one of the biggest and best clashes of the 2026 tournament.

Women's Round 2: Australia Jillaroos v England at HBF Park, Perth, Saturday 24 October, 8.05pm AEDT

England will be looking to make amends and show what they can do when they face off against the might of the Jillaroos for the first time since their heavy loss in Las Vegas. The Jillaroos showcased their class in their last meeting in March, with Tamika Upton running amok with five tries, while Jess Sergis and Julia Robinson both scored hat-tricks. Following the loss, England vowed to improve and will be eyeing off the opportunity to test themselves once more.

Women's Round 3: England v Fetu Samoa at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Friday 30 October, 5.50pm AEDT

England will take on the rapidly improving Fetu Samoa in what shapes as an intriguing Friday night contest at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium. The northerners remain third in the revamped International Rugby League rankings, with Samoa catapulting 12 places into fifth position after impressing in the Pacific Championships over the past two seasons. A rare encounter between the two sides, it will be a meeting of different styles to determine who comes out on top.