Super Rugby Aotearoa's second season will see a Grand Final played out between the competition's two best teams in 2021.
The format remains largely unchanged to the highly popular tournament that ran post the first COVID-19 lockdown.
A double round-robin will be in effect again, with all five teams receiving two byes during the eight rounds.
The Crusaders and Highlanders kick off the action on February 26 in Dunedin - the red-and-blacks will chase their fifth straight Super title.
The Blues travel to Wellington to take on the Hurricanes in the other opening-round clash.
Popular Sunday afternoon kickoffs are back, with Auckland hosting two, and Christchurch and Wellington one each.
NZ Rugby head of high performance Mike Anthony says the All Blacks will be available to play from round one.
"The later start date for Super Rugby Aotearoa means our players will be ready to go on the start-line, which is a good result for everyone," Anthony says.
"From a high-performance point of view, it will once again give us an ideal platform to assess our top playing talent going head-to-head in a high-quality competition."
After the NZ campaign, some form of trans-Tasman series may be played between the top two sides from each competition.
NZR general manager of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum says that's still being ironed out, but discussions between the two unions are progressing.
The Crusaders won the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, locking up the Tū Kōtahi Aotearoa Trophy with a round to play.
Their final round clash against the Blues was called off due to a second outbreak of coronavirus in Auckland.
