Rugby league fans across Australia and New Zealand now have a confirmed date to mark on their calendars, as the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has officially locked in details for the historic first State of Origin game to be hosted outside of Australia. Game two of the 2026 State of Origin series will be played at Auckland’s iconic Eden Park on Wednesday, June 16, marking the first time in the tournament’s long history that a fixture will be held across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand.
The confirmation, announced publicly by the ARLC on Tuesday morning, paves the way for fans to book travel and hospitality packages for the groundbreaking event. Organizers have also planned a full week of rugby league-focused celebrations leading up to the main Origin fixture, kicking off with a National Rugby League (NRL) match hosted by the New Zealand Warriors at the same Eden Park venue on the Sunday three days before the Origin clash.
This historic cross-Tasman move continues a growing trend in recent years of expanding State of Origin hosting beyond the traditional strongholds of Sydney and Brisbane. Over the past decade, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne have all stepped in to host Origin fixtures, spreading the sport’s most high-profile rivalry to new audiences across the region.
ARLC Chair Peter V’landys emphasized that the move to Auckland is a natural next step for the iconic tournament, which has carved out an unmatched reputation in Australian sport. “State of Origin is truly one of a kind,” V’landys said. “It delivers an atmosphere you cannot find anywhere else in Australian sport – brutal but respectful rivalry, unfiltered passion, and an intensity that you have to experience in person to understand. This is a bucket-list event for any rugby league fan.”
He added that the week-long festival of rugby league will not only build excitement for the main match but also showcase the sport to New Zealand audiences and traveling international fans. “It’s going to be a complete takeover of Auckland, putting the very best of rugby league on display for everyone,” he said.
Current State of Origin champions the New South Wales Blues will head into the fixture looking to extend their recent run of success, with organizers projecting that around 50,000 fans will pack into Eden Park for the historic clash. Growing interest in the match has been fueled by the surging popularity of rugby league across New Zealand, where the Warriors have consistently drawn record crowds at every home match in recent seasons. This strong fan base has also sparked growing speculation that New Zealand could be the home of the NRL’s 20th franchise in coming years.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown called the first-ever Origin match to the city a major win for the region, noting the tournament’s status as one of the biggest sporting events in the Australasian region. “One of the biggest events in Australasian sport is coming to our city, and we can’t wait to put on an incredible experience for fans who live here and those traveling over from Australia,” Brown said. “Now that the date is locked in, fans can start planning their trips. We encourage everyone to stay for more than just the 80 minutes of play – make a full week of it, and experience our city’s take on State of Origin both inside the stadium and across Auckland.”