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The clock above counts down to the 2026 AFL Grand Final on Saturday September 26, 2026 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the championship match of the Australian Football League season.
The AFL Grand Final is the championship game of Australian rules football, contested by the two teams that survive the four-week finals series at the end of the home-and-away season. By long-standing convention since 1902 the Grand Final is held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which has a capacity of 100,024 and regularly fills for the day. The Premiership Cup, the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground, and Premiership medals are presented at full-time on the MCG turf.
The 2026 Grand Final is the second under the AFL's new broadcast deal with Seven Network and Foxtel that started in 2025, with shared free-to-air rights ensuring the match is on free TV across Australia. Pre-match traditions include the Grand Final Parade, the All-Australian team announcement, the Norm Smith trial vote, and the famously unpredictable choice of pre-match musical entertainment.
Per AFL scheduling, the bounce is at 14:30 AEST. The match is four 20-minute quarters of running time plus stoppages, typically lasting around two and a half hours including the long half-time break. Rule of thumb is that the team that wins more clearances and contested possessions wins the day. Norm Smith Medal voting takes place during the fourth quarter and is read out during the post-match presentations.
In Australia the Grand Final is free-to-air on Seven and 7plus, with full coverage on Fox Footy. New Zealand has it on Sky Sport. The UK and Europe stream on Watch AFL. The US has the AFL Pass. India is on Watch AFL globally. The 14:30 AEST bounce converts to 04:30 GMT, 05:30 BST, 23:30 ET Friday, 10:00 IST, and 12:30 NZST Saturday.
AFL fans can also track the All-Ireland Hurling Final 2026, the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, the Commonwealth Games 2026, and the Rugby World Cup 2027 Final at Stadium Australia.
When is the AFL Grand Final 2026? Saturday September 26, 2026 with the bounce at 14:30 AEST. Where is the AFL Grand Final 2026 held? The Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. How can I watch the AFL Grand Final 2026? Free on Seven and 7plus in Australia, Fox Footy on pay TV, and Watch AFL globally. What is the Norm Smith Medal? The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the player judged best on ground in the Grand Final, voted on by a panel of past players and presented at full-time.
