As in 2011 and this season, the 18 clubs will be divided into six divisions.
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Each division will gather at a single venue for its round-one matches, which will be shortened lightning premiership-style games.
The competition will begin on the weekend of February 15-17, with three divisions playing their round-one games at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Patersons Stadium in Perth and AAMI Stadium in Adelaide.
The other three divisions will play their shortened matches on the weekend of February 22-24.
The venues for those games are Etihad Stadium, Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast and the Blacktown International Sports Park in western Sydney.
In the past two seasons Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions have been placed in the same pool, as have the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney.
That is likely to be the case again next year.
"The triangular format will … aim to balance club travel loads as best as practically possible," the AFL's general manager broadcasting, scheduling and legal affairs, Simon Lethlean, said on Friday.
"Each of these match-ups will be scheduled in twilight/night slots … to avoid any early-season heat concerns."
Rounds two and three of the NAB Cup will involve full-length matches played at a range of regional and metropolitan venues in each state and territory.
The top two teams on the competition ladder will play off in the Grand Final on the weekend of March 15-16.
The other 16 clubs will play practice matches on that weekend.
Fox Footy will exclusively broadcast a number of matches in rounds one, two and three, while the Grand Final will be broadcast live by both Fox Footy and the Seven Network.
Adelaide won the 2012 NAB Cup, defeating West Coast by 34 points at AAMI Stadium before a crowd of just over 27,000.
