AFL Grand Final sets record television viewership in Australia

The 2026 AFL Grand Final between the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle Dockers has set new television viewership records in Australia. The match, which saw Brisbane secure a three-peat with a seven-point victory at the MCG, became the most-watched television program of the year.

Broadcast data indicates the Grand Final reached a national total TV audience of approximately 4.52 million people, with a total reach of over 6.5 million across the Seven Network and its streaming service, 7plus. This represents an 8% increase in audience compared to the previous year. The event also drew a crowd of 100,023 to the MCG, marking the highest attendance for a Grand Final between two non-Victorian clubs.

In terms of weekly television ratings, the high viewership from the AFL Grand Final and the Brownlow Medal helped the Seven Network win the week in total people and key demographics, finishing 6.2 points ahead of Nine. The Grand Final was the primary driver for Seven's Saturday prime-time dominance, where the network held a 39.2% share.