There are 18 teams in the AFL men’s competition as of the 2026 season.

Quick Scoop

  • The Australian Football League (AFL) currently runs a national men’s competition with 18 clubs across Australia’s mainland states.
  • This 18‑team setup has been stable for several seasons and is also what the 2026 AFL fixture is built around.
  • A Tasmanian club has been granted a licence and is scheduled to join later in the decade, which will eventually take the competition to 19 teams once it officially enters.

In short, if you’re asking “how many teams in AFL” right now (2026 season context), the answer is 18. ✅

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