The AFL Grand Final has delivered a record audience for Seven, becoming the most-watched AFL Grand Final on record and the biggest television program of 2026.
Brisbane’s dramatic seven-point victory over Fremantle yesterday afternoon drew a national total TV audience of 4.52 million, with the match reaching 6.5 million Australians, up 8% on last year’s Grand Final.
The result came after a remarkable finish, with Fremantle leading by 17 points with just 4:18 remaining before Brisbane produced a stunning late comeback.
The Lions kicked the final four goals to claim a 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) victory and secure a third consecutive premiership.
The pre-game entertainment provided another major moment, with Australia’s pop princess Kylie Minogue headlining a 20-minute performance alongside G Flip, Michael Paynter, William Barton and Mike Brady.
Kylie worked through a selection of her biggest hits before finishing with an aerial performance above a giant football, with sections of the MCG crowd giving her a standing ovation.
The sight of grown men singing along to Kylie’s hits provided one of the lighter moments of the day before the focus returned to the football.
The AFL Grand Final Pre-Game Entertainment reached 4.35 million Australians and recorded a national total TV audience of 1.83 million, up 20% on last year, according to Seven.
The Grand Final also delivered a record audience for 7plus, with 1.42 million viewers streaming the match, up 44% from 984,000 in 2025.
By the numbers:
- AFL Grand Final: National reach 6.5 million, national total TV audience 4.52 million, including 1.42 million on 7plus
- AFL Grand Final Post-Match Presentations: National reach 6 million, national total TV audience 3.96 million
- AFL Grand Final On The Ground: National reach 4.04 million, national total TV audience 3.27 million
- AFL Grand Final Pre-Game Entertainment: National reach 4.35 million, national total TV audience 1.83 million
- AFL Grand Final Post-Match: National reach 941,000, national total TV audience 519,000
- AFL Grand Final Countdown: National reach 1.48 million, national total TV audience 693,000
- AFL Grand Final Brunch: National reach 1.16 million, national total TV audience 495,000
- 7AFL digital platforms: 16.49 million impressions, 1.51 million engagements and 9.31 million video views
- Finals Series excluding the Grand Final: 9.1 million reach and 1.12 million total TV audience
- Full AFL season including the Grand Final: 18.5 million reach and 681,000 total TV audience
- Seven commercial share, 6am–6pm: 86% in all people and 88.5% in 25 to 54s
- 7plus BVOD share: 85.6%
- 7plus live streaming share: 89.3%
Seven’s Head of AFL and Sport Innovation Gary O’Keeffe said the Grand Final capped what had been a significant Finals Series for the network, while congratulating Brisbane on completing a third consecutive premiership.
“Congratulations to Chris Fagan and the Brisbane Lions on a remarkable third consecutive premiership and their second three-peat in club history – becoming just the second club, alongside Melbourne, to achieve that feat.”
Seven’s Southern Cross Media Group Director of Sport, TV, Audio and Streaming Chris Jones said the Grand Final audience demonstrated the reach of the event across broadcast television and streaming.
“With a record 1.42 million Australians streaming the Grand Final on 7plus Sport, the continued growth of both broadcast television and digital streaming demonstrates the extraordinary strength of Seven across every screen.”
Seven recorded its four most-watched programs of Saturday across the Grand Final, post-match presentations, pre-game entertainment and AFL Grand Final On The Ground, with 7NEWS ranking fifth, making the decision to follow the Grand Final coverage with a repeat of The 1% Club Australia an interesting programming choice given the size of the lead-in.
The AFL Grand Final Post-Match Presentations reached 6 million Australians and recorded a national total TV audience of 3.96 million, up 18% on 2025, as viewers stayed with Seven for Brisbane’s premiership celebrations.
Seven says the result caps a record AFL season for the network and 7plus, with the Finals Series excluding the Grand Final reaching 9.1 million Australians, while the full season reached 18.5 million.
Source: Seven Network media release, 27 September 2026. Audience figures supplied by Seven.
