when is the grand final afl

The AFL Grand Final 2026 is scheduled for Saturday, September 26. This marks the traditional last Saturday in September for the Australian Football League's championship match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Event Details

• Date and Venue : Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

• Start Time (AEST) : Typically around 2:30 PM local time (14:30), lasting about 3 hours, though exact times may be confirmed closer to the event.

• Public Holidays : Friday, September 25, 2026, is AFL Grand Final Eve, a public holiday in Victoria; some sources note a "Grand Final Friday" observance.

The Grand Final decides the AFL premiers after a season of intense competition, drawing massive crowds and national excitement in Australia.

Recent Context

Last year's 2025 Grand Final followed the same late-September tradition, with Melbourne enveloped in euphoria at the MCG. For 2026, preparations are already buzzing, as it's a cornerstone of Australia's sporting calendar.

"The last Saturday in September each year is a sacred time for most people in Melbourne."

Global Timing

If you're outside Australia, here's how it lines up (all times for September 26, 2026, event start):

City| Local Time
---|---
Sydney| Sat 2:30 PM
London| Sat 5:30 AM
New York| Sat 12:30 AM
Tokyo| Sat 1:30 PM
Los Angeles| Fri 5:30 PM

Times adjust for timezones; check locally for updates as the season progresses. TL;DR : AFL Grand Final 2026 hits the MCG on September 26 —mark your calendars for footy's biggest day! Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.