AFL Grand Final rewrites the record books
Most watched AFL Grand Final ever
#1 program on Australian television this year
Reaches 6.5 million, total TV audience of 4.52 million
Record audience on 7plus
The Seven Network’s live, free and exclusive coverage of the 2026 AFL Grand Final showdown between the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle at the MCG has taken the crown as the most watched TV program of the year, with a national total TV audience of 4.52 million and an audience reach of 6.5 million.
The number of people who turned to Seven and 7plus Sport to watch Brisbane claim the 2026 Premiership Cup was up 8% on last year and the highest rating AFL Grand Final ever.
Yesterday’s thrilling game set a new audience record on 7plus, with 1.42 million viewers, up 44% from 984,000 in 2025 – giving 7plus its biggest day ever.
The Seven Network was the #1 network on Saturday, with the AFL Grand Final, the AFL Grand Final Post-Match Presentations, the AFL Grand Final Pre Game Entertainment and the AFL Grand On The Ground the four most-watched programs. 7NEWS was ranked #5.
From 6am to 6pm yesterday, Seven had an 86% commercial share in all people, including an 88.5% share in 25 to 54s. 7plus was #1 in BVOD on Saturday, with an 85.6% audience share. In live streaming alone, 7plus had an 89.3% share.
The AFL Grand Final Post-Match Presentations reached 6 million, with a national total TV audience of 3.96 million, up 18% on 2025. The AFL Grand Final Pre-Game Entertainment starring Kylie Minogue, G Flip, Michael Paynter, William Barton and Mike “Up There Cazaly” Brady reached 4.35 million and had a national total TV audience of 1.83 million, up 20% on last year.
Across social media, 7AFL’s digital platforms delivered huge numbers throughout AFL Grand Final Day, generating more than 16,492,500 total impressions, 1,514,560 engagements and 9,317,520 video views.
The 2026 AFL Grand Final was the highlight of a remarkable AFL season on Seven and 7plus Sport. The Finals Series (excluding yesterday’s match) reached 9.1 million people and a total TV audience of 1.12 million, up 9% from 1.03 million in 2025.
The full AFL season on Seven and 7plus Sport, including the Grand Final, reached 18.5 million people and had a total TV audience of 681,000, up 9% from 626,000 last year.
Southern Cross Media Group’s Director of Sport, TV, Audio and Streaming, Chris Jones, said: “In an extraordinary end to the greatest Finals Series we’ve ever seen, Australians turned to Seven and 7plus Sport in record numbers, making the 2026 AFL Grand Final the highest rating Grand Final ever.
“From the opening moments of our coverage outside the MCG, through Kylie Minogue’s show-stopping pre-game performance, an unforgettable match and the premiership celebrations, Australians were with us every step of the way. To see audiences of this scale across the entire day is an outstanding result and speaks to the incredible power of the AFL and the appetite Australians have to experience our biggest sporting moments live and free.
“Thank you to the AFL and the players for putting on a spectacular show,” he said.
“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. Together, we’re able to reach more Australians and make our biggest sporting moments more accessible than ever – live and free, wherever and however audiences choose to watch.
“As we look ahead to an action-packed sport schedule including the Rugby League World Cup, Bathurst 1000, Spring Racing Carnival including The Everest, Caulfield Cup and historic Cox Plate, an incredible Summer of Cricket and the AFLW Finals, we look forward to delivering more world-class sport coverage to all Australians.”
Seven’s Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe, said: “From the opening week of the Finals through to an unforgettable record-breaking Grand Final, Australians have just enjoyed the greatest AFL Finals Series ever, and the extraordinary audiences across Seven and 7plus Sport demonstrate just how strongly it captured the nation.
“Week after week, the football delivered – thrilling contests, huge moments, compelling storylines and performances that will be remembered for years to come.
“The passion Australians have for this game has been on full display throughout September, and it has been a privilege for our team to bring every moment of both the home and away season and Finals Series live and free to fans across the country. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve delivered across Seven and 7plus Sport this season, and we already can’t wait to do it all again in 2027,” he said.
“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. For Fremantle, the heartbreak will be immense. With the entire state of Western Australia behind them, the Dockers were exceptional all season and gave absolutely everything on Grand Final Day.
“We thank our partners at the AFL and its clubs for another record-breaking season on Seven and 7plus Sport and look forward to rounding out an action-packed Round 7 of the AFLW today as the race to the Finals Series continues, live and free on Seven and 7plus.”
Seven’s Director of Sales, Television and Streaming, Katie Finney, said: “There’s no better platform to connect with audiences than the AFL Grand Final, and this year proved it once again. The 2026 decider was the most watched program of the year and the highest-rating Grand Final ever, cementing its status as the #1 winter sport for both viewers and brands.
