when is the rugby league world cup

The next Rugby League World Cup will be held in October–November 2026, with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments all running in that window.

Quick Scoop

• The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is scheduled across October and November 2026.

• The men’s tournament is set to kick off on Thursday 15 October 2026 , with the finals weekend in mid‑November 2026.

• All three tournaments (Men’s, Women’s, Wheelchair) are being staged together in this period, creating a month‑long festival of rugby league.

Where it’s happening

• The main host is Australia , with additional matches in Papua New Guinea , bringing the World Cup back to the Southern Hemisphere.

• Games will be spread across multiple cities and venues, including major stadiums such as Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium for key fixtures and the finals.

Why it’s in 2026, not 2025

• The tournament was originally planned for 2025 in France , but France withdrew as host due to financial concerns.

• International Rugby League then shifted the event to 2026 and awarded hosting rights to Australia, confirming the new schedule for October–November 2026.

Latest news and forum buzz

• Recent official announcements have focused on the full fixture list , broadcast deals, and confirmation of double‑header match days to boost crowds and TV audiences.

• Fan forums are buzzing about:
  • Which emerging nations might cause upsets.
  • Travel plans for following their teams across Australia and PNG.
  • Broadcast coverage deals and commentary teams for the 2026 tournament.

TL;DR

• Main answer to “when is the rugby league world cup ”:
  • It runs in October–November 2026 , with kick‑off around 15 October and finals in mid‑November.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.