CFL Playoffs 2026
Six teams make the 2026 CFL playoffs: the top three in each division. Division winners get a bye to the Division Finals, the second-place teams host the Semifinals, and the two Division Final winners meet in the 113th Grey Cup in Calgary on November 15.
Current Playoff Picture
West Division
| # | Team | W–L | PCT | Playoff Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton Elks | 11–4 | .733 | Bye to Division Final |
| 2 | BC Lions | 9–6 | .600 | Hosts Semifinal |
| 3 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | 8–7 | .533 | In — plays Semifinal on the road |
| 4 | Calgary Stampeders | 8–8 | .500 | Out (crossover watch) |
| 5 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 7–8 | .467 | Out (crossover watch) |
East Division
| # | Team | W–L | PCT | Playoff Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal Alouettes | 12–3 | .800 | Bye to Division Final |
| 2 | Toronto Argonauts | 9–7 | .563 | Hosts Semifinal |
| 3 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 5–11 | .313 | In — plays Semifinal on the road |
| 4 | Ottawa Redblacks | 0–15 | .000 | Out (crossover watch) |
Standings update through the season. A fourth-place team can still qualify via the crossover rule if it out-points the third-place team in the opposite division.
How the format works
Division Semifinals (early November): the second-place team in each division hosts the third-place team (or a crossover qualifier).
Division Finals: each semifinal winner travels to the division’s first-place team, which earned the bye.
Grey Cup (mid-November): the East and West champions meet for the title.
The crossover: playoff spots follow the standings, not just geography — a strong fourth-place team in one division can take the third seed in the other. No crossover team has ever reached the Grey Cup, but the rule keeps late-season races alive in both divisions.
2026 is the final year of this format: from 2027, eight of nine teams qualify and the postseason adds a third round before the Grey Cup.
Playoff FAQ
How many teams make the CFL playoffs?
Six of the nine CFL teams make the playoffs in 2026 — the top three finishers in the East Division and the top three in the West Division.
What is the CFL crossover rule?
If the fourth-place team in one division finishes with more points than the third-place team in the other division, it crosses over and takes that playoff spot, playing on the road in the other division's semifinal.
Do division winners get a bye?
Yes. The first-place team in each division skips the semifinal round and hosts the Division Final.
When do the CFL playoffs start?
The Division Semifinals are played in early November, the Division Finals the following week, and the Grey Cup closes the season in mid-November. The 113th Grey Cup is November 15, 2026 in Calgary.
Is the playoff format changing?
Yes — starting in 2027 the CFL moves to an eight-team postseason with three rounds before the Grey Cup. 2026 is the final season of the six-team format.