Magic Weekend is an event that always causes debate, and the future of the two-day showpiece is once again in the spotlight after the decision that’s seen Super League expand to 14 teams.
Super League clubs voted on Monday to confirm that the competition will be comprised of 14 teams next year in a move that is largely driven by the desire to remove loop fixtures.
Of course, Magic Weekend is itself a loop fixture but it’s proven popular with the fans with the 2025 edition recording a huge attendance and marking the first time that the Sunday crowd has been larger than on Saturday.
No doubt the return to St James Park helped and there had been hope among those at RL Commercial and those in Newcastle that the event could return there for 2026.
However, reports from All Out Rugby League have suggested Magic could be scrapped from the rugby league calendar with suggestions being that an eight-team play-offs, which requires four weeks and not three, could cause the ultimate loop fixture weekend to be canned.
Serious About Rugby League understand that the Strategic Review Panel, headed by Nigel Wood and in charge of determining the sport’s future, declined to comment on reports that Magic Weekend could be shelved.
 What Rugby League fans think about Magic Weekend for 2026
We asked fans for their verdict on the event’s future amid a 14-team Super League and if they wish for it to continue or not. Posing the question: ‘Do you still want to see Magic Weekend in Super League in 2026?’, a large number of fans responded and here are some of the best comments from our Facebook page and across social media.Â
Jason Gibson: Definitely keep magic weekend. One of the highlights of the seasonÂ
Andrea Thompson: Magic weekend when held in Newcastle is a great event. Keep it. Â
Linda Pownall: Scrap it and then the league will be a true league by playing every team home and away once.Â
Maureen Walker: Glad to get rid of the loop fixtures, but magic weekend definately needs to continueÂ
Paul Walton: It has worked with fourteen teams before so why notÂ
Pádraig Ó Tuathaigh: No. Scrap it. Too many games already for players welfare. Also only so much supporters can afford. Â
Some fans have suggested the idea that the four quarter final matches of the cup should be what Magic Weekend is used for, that way it keeps the league fixtures to once at home and one away, whilst also keeping the event.Â
Tony Winstanley: Play quarter finals of challenge cup over weekend. Then all clubs have a chance of getting thereÂ
Peter Smurthwaite: I liked the suggestion of the last 16 cup ties at magicÂ
Marc Rowsby: Yes, we want rid of it, but we want it to be the challenge Cup magic weekend why don’t we try and include the championship and league one fans in the weekendÂ
5 Comments
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Anthony Salisbury
July 29, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Why change something that works, when the fans and players enjoy the magic weekend fixture at Newcastle
John Dalton
July 30, 2025 at 12:17 am
Regarding Magic Weekend –
Is it broken? NO
Does it need fixing? NO
Why are we even asking the question…………..
John Lancaster
July 30, 2025 at 1:11 pm
Just follow what the Aussies do- 7 of the teams forfeit one of their home games one year and then the other 7 do the same the following year.
Ray
July 30, 2025 at 4:15 pm
Keep magic weekend even though the selection of fixtures is unfair.Would like to see fixtures based on League table placings upto the week before magic ,I.E 1st v 2nd,3rd v 4th etc.Still no perfect but fairer.
John
August 4, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Have to keep it.
As John Lancaster comments – go with the NRL formula. Seven forfeit a home game one year and the other seven the following year. Only minor issue is with the “promoted/ relegated” team, but better idea than installing an extra fake loop fixture.