Football Tasmania today announced that the McDonald’s National Premier Leagues (NPL) Tasmania will expand to ten clubs for Season 2026 and be played across 18 rounds, with the bottom two teams being relegated ahead of Season 2027.
The League welcomes South East United Football Club, who were back-to-back winners of the Southern Championship in 2024 and 2025, and made it to the final of the Statewide Cup in 2025; and Ulverstone SC, who finished second in the Northern Championship in 2025. Both have successfully met the Football Australia National Premier Leagues’ criteria.
The McDonald’s NPL also welcomes back the current eight clubs in 2026 – Kingborough Lions, Launceston United, Devonport City Strikers, South Hobart, Riverside Olympic, Glenorchy Knights, Launceston City and Clarence Zebras.
Football Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Tony Pignata said: “We congratulate South East United and Ulverstone for all of the hard work that has gone into demonstrating their readiness to participate in the highest level of football possible in the State.
“To maintain the integrity of the competition – and to ensure that all clubs remain competitive at this level – we will offer only eight places in the NPL in 2027, automatically relegating the sides that finish ninth and tenth in 2026.
“We look forward to these changes revitalising the league in 2026, reigniting clubs’ desire to compete – and be competitive – at the highest level possible.
“We are currently conducting the licence audit process for our Women’s Super League, and we look forward to confirming this league in the coming weeks.”
Season 2026 fixtures will be released in the coming months.