# AFL and AFLW attendance and viewership growth

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/afl-and-aflw-attendance-and-viewership-growth
> Updated: 2026-09-13T03:16:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

The 2026 Australian Football League (AFL) season has seen significant growth in engagement. Early reports indicated that AFLW attendances increased by more than 50 per cent compared to the previous season, a trend attributed to the implementation of double-header matches in tier one stadiums.

As the season progressed into the Finals Series, the league achieved record-breaking viewership and attendance. Semi-final broadcasts reached 7.9 million Australians, and total series attendance reached 513,277, including six sell-out crowds. Notable performances in the semi-finals have placed Luke Jackson and Zac Bailey in the lead for the Gary Ayres Medal.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-13: AFL Finals Series sees record viewership and attendance

The 2026 AFL Finals Series has seen record viewership and attendance, while Luke Jackson and Zac Bailey lead the Gary Ayres Medal race with 10 votes each.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afl-finals-series-sees-record-viewership-and-attendance

### 2026-09-04: AFLW attendance grows through double-header matches

AFLW attendances have risen by over 50 per cent this season, driven by successful double-header matches that have drawn crowds of up to 20,000 people.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aflw-attendance-grows-through-double-header-matches

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Cite as: AFL and AFLW attendance and viewership growth. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/afl-and-aflw-attendance-and-viewership-growth