2026 AFL Grand Final: When is it, who's playing and how to watch

The 2026 AFL Grand Final is imminent, with the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle Dockers set to face off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday afternoon.

The Brisbane Lions are hoping to — for the second time in 25 years — achieve three consecutive flags after taking the trophy in 2024 and 2025. That would follow their triple titles from 2001 to 2003.

Meanwhile, Western Australia's Fremantle Dockers supporters are dreaming of their first flag since joining the league in 1995.

The two teams last played each other in May, with Fremantle beating Brisbane 103-78.

Fremantle will play in just its second decider after it lost to Hawthorn in 2013.

Brisbane aims to join Melbourne as the only clubs to twice win three consecutive premierships — Melbourne's coming in the VFL era in 1939 to 1941 and 1955 to 1957.

The AFL has had a torrid few weeks leading up to the finals series.

Five Sydney Swans players were suspended and remain under police investigation following sexual assault allegations in a Melbourne hotel incident in late August.

Geelong were also fined for a secret concussion waiver with player Jake Kolodjashnij, an arrangement that caused embarrassment for new AFL chairman and former Cats president Craig Drummond.

Taped guernseys, oil and the Dockers

Over the past week, a new movement has seen fans, MPs and band Tame Impala pictured with guernseys taped over to conceal a controversial sponsor.

Australian gas giant Woodside Energy renewed its long-term sponsorship deal with the Fremantle Dockers at the end of 2024.

The sponsorship has drawn criticism over the years, from activists and fans alike, as Woodside has faced legal challenges and criticism from Traditional Owners on its planned extension of the North West Shelf project off the coast of Western Australia.

With Fremantle firmly in the spotlight, the fan-led, long-running "Woodside, get off my chest" campaign has only gained momentum, publicly embraced by Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, who sported a Fremantle guernsey with the Woodside badge taped over while on stage on tour in the United States last week.

The much-publicised images have led to renewed calls for Fremantle to end the 16-year sponsorship deal.

Federal Labor member for Fremantle, Josh Wilson, was also seen wearing a Dockers jersey with, again, a taped-out Woodside logo.

In a statement, he said the picture was a "family photo", and that by wearing the shirt, he intended to show his support for Fremantle.

If you are planning to watch the big match, here's everything you need to know:

What time is the AFL Grand Final?

Saturday's match at the MCG will start at 2.30pm AEST. For fans in the NT and South Australia, it'll start at 2pm ACST, and for those in Western Australia, you'll be able to watch from 12.30pm AWST.

Where can I watch the AFL Grand Final?

If you are not among the expected 100,000 watching the match at the MCG, you can watch it on Channel Seven and Seven Plus for free.

Other subscription-based broadcasters such as Kayo Sports, which showed the rest of the finals, will not show the match.

You can also listen to the commentary on Triple M, ABC radio and AFL Nation radio.

Who is performing in the pre-game entertainment?

Pre-game entertainment will start at 1.30pm AEST, with Australia's 'princess of pop' Kylie Minogue to headline.

Australian music stars G Flip, Michael Paynter and Mike Brady are also scheduled to perform at the MCG.

"Kylie is going to be amazing. The grand final act is something that has a lot of interest in it and (it's) often met with varying views," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon told Australian Associated Press.

"But with Kylie, that's been an all-time, 100 per cent, everyone behind it.

"She's an unbelievable performer, but the production around it and the attention to detail is amazing."

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