2026 AFL Grand Final: full Channel 7 and 7plus guide – Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions meet at the MCG on Saturday 26 September, with more than 12 hours of live Grand Final Day coverage across Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus.
Seven’s coverage begins with a special edition of Weekend Sunrise at 7.00am AEST and continues through the build-up, the match, premiership presentations and post-game celebrations after 7.00pm. The first bounce is scheduled for 2.00pm AEST.
It is a landmark decider for both clubs and a major free-to-air event. Viewers can follow the match and surrounding programs without switching subscriptions, while Seven has also built a full week of AFL and AFLW programming around Grand Final Day.
Fremantle v Brisbane Lions live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw will call the Grand Final. Luke Hodge and Kane Cornes provide expert commentary, while Abbey Holmes and 7NEWS Chief Football Reporter Mitch Cleary report from the boundary.
Matthew Richardson will deliver goal-kicking analysis from an exclusive position behind the posts. Seven notes that Richardson has kicked more goals at the MCG than any other player.
During the main break, Hamish McLachlan will be joined by Joel Selwood, Dale Thomas and Nick Riewoldt. Holmes and Daisy Pearce will be stationed outside the competing team rooms with the latest news from both clubs.
The Telstra Half-Time Sprint returns with a group of the competition’s fastest players, called by Jack Heverin. After the siren, Seven will remain at the MCG for the Norm Smith Medal, presentation of the 2026 AFL Premiership Cup and interviews with the key figures from the winning and losing teams.
Seven’s wider Grand Final line-up includes Rebecca Maddern, Campbell Brown, Kate McCarthy, Brendan Fevola and Jason Richardson. 7NEWS reporters Tom Morris, Theo Doropoulos, Kate Massey and Xander McGuire will follow breaking stories throughout the day, while Katie Brown reports from the MCG precinct and Yarra Park Footy Festival.
Kylie Minogue headlines the pre-game entertainment
Kylie Minogue leads the AFL Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment at the MCG. The Grammy winner and 18-time ARIA Award winner will perform as part of an all-Australian bill.
G Flip opens the entertainment program before Minogue’s headline set. Michael Paynter will perform the Australian National Anthem, while Mike Brady AM returns for Up There Cazaly during the Toyota AFL retiree motorcade.
Minogue will also join Abbey Holmes during Seven’s coverage to discuss her preparations and preview the performance.
Seven promises its biggest AFL Grand Final production
Seven Head of AFL and Sport Innovation Gary O’Keeffe said the network would be on air from the moment viewers wake up, combining football analysis with access, entertainment and the atmosphere around the MCG.
Seven says the broadcast will use the largest camera set-up in AFL Grand Final history. Its coverage will also be distributed to viewers in 138 countries, taking the premiership decider to an international audience.
7NEWS.com.au will run a live rolling blog throughout Saturday for news and match updates.
Saturday 26 September: complete AFL Grand Final Day schedule
The following times are the local market times supplied in Seven’s official guide.
Weekend Sunrise AFL Grand Final Day Special
David Woiwod and Monique Wright host from 7.00am AEST, beginning the continuous Grand Final Day coverage.
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2026 AFL Grand Final Brunch
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 9.00am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 8.30am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 7.00am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
Jason Richardson hosts the annual Grand Final Brunch with Campbell Brown and Kate McCarthy.
2026 AFL Grand Final Countdown
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 10.30am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 10.00am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 8.30am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
Rebecca Maddern is joined by Matthew Richardson and Carlton and Brisbane great Brendan Fevola as the build-up moves closer to the MCG.
2026 AFL Grand Final Pre-Game Show
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 12.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 11.30am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 10.00am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
Hamish McLachlan leads a panel featuring Nick Riewoldt, Dale Thomas, Daisy Pearce, Luke Hodge, Kane Cornes and Joel Selwood. The program includes the live pre-game entertainment and retiree motorcade.
2026 AFL Grand Final: Fremantle v Brisbane Lions
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 2.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 1.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 12.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
2026 AFL Grand Final Presentations
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 5.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 4.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 3.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
2026 AFL Grand Final post-match coverage
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 6.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 5.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 4.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
The commentary team remains live at the MCG with the premiers and the major figures from the decider.
Grand Final week programming on Channel 7 and 7plus
Wednesday 23 September
Dennis Cometti: Centimetre Perfect – 8.30pm nationally on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport.
The feature-length Seven documentary honours Dennis Cometti’s life and career. Contributors include his son Mark Cometti, Kieren Perkins, Susie O’Neill, Bruce McAvaney, Eddie McGuire, Sandy Roberts, Basil Zempilas, Nick Riewoldt, Chris Judd and Bob Murphy.
Unfiltered: Tom Stewart – 10.45pm nationally on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. Stewart reflects on missing the previous Grand Final because of concussion and shares the story of the birth of his son Arthur after the 2020 decider.
Thursday 24 September
AFLW Round Seven: Geelong Cats v Hawthorn
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 7.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 6.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 5.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
The Front Bar: Grand Final Edition – 8.30pm nationally on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher welcome guests including 2026 Brownlow Medallist Nick Daicos, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick.
Hear the Mighty Roar: Brisbane Lions, Episode Five – 10.30pm nationally on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport.
Friday 25 September
Sunrise broadcasts from Federation Square from 5.30am AEST with Nat Barr, Matt Shirvington, Monique Wright, Sam Mac and Katie Brown. The 2026 AFL Premiership Cup will be on display, with live music and a competition for Grand Final tickets.
AFLW Round Seven: Essendon v West Coast Eagles – 10.00am in Perth on 7two and 7plus Sport.
AFLW Round Seven: Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide – 1.30pm in Adelaide on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport.
AFLW Round Seven: Carlton v Richmond – 4.00pm in Sydney and Melbourne on 7mate and 7plus Sport.
AFLW Round Seven: Melbourne v North Melbourne
- Sydney and Brisbane: 7.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Melbourne: 7.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 6.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 5.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Sunday 27 September
AFLW Round Seven: Adelaide Crows v Fremantle
- Adelaide: 12.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 11.00am live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
AFLW Round Seven: Collingwood v GWS Giants – 1.00pm in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport.
AFLW Round Seven: Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane: 3.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 2.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 1.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport
AFLW Round Seven: Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda – 5.00pm in Brisbane on 7mate and 7plus Sport.
For more TV Central AFL news, head here. Stream Seven’s Grand Final coverage through the official 7plus service.