Seven secures exclusive Australian free-to-air NFL rights for historic Melbourne game and 2026 season – Seven has secured exclusive Australian free-to-air rights to the 2026 NFL season, including the first regular season NFL game to be played on Australian soil.
The agreement will see Seven and 7plus Sport broadcast the full 2026 season. It also includes key weekly matches, the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI.
For Australian viewers, this is a major sports-rights move. The NFL has been building momentum locally. Now, Seven has a live and free centrepiece with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meeting at the MCG on Friday, 11 September.
Historic NFL Game At The MCG
The first regular season NFL game in Australia will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As a result, one of the league’s biggest rivalries will reach Australian audiences in a local morning window.
Seven’s game-day coverage on Friday, 11 September will begin with a special broadcast of Sunrise live from Melbourne. Then, the main game coverage will follow from 9.00am AEST.
Full Season Coverage
Beyond the MCG game, Seven will broadcast a weekly lineup of NFL action across the 2026 season.
The network will also expand NFL Tailgate to twice a week. In addition, the show will include a Friday preview program and a Monday morning review show. Both editions will carry news, analysis and highlights from across the league.
The deal adds the NFL to a major sports slate on Seven. Meanwhile, the network’s 2026 calendar also includes the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, AFL Finals, the Summer of Cricket, Supercars, Spring Racing and the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Seven And NFL Welcome The Deal
Southern Cross Media Group Managing Director and CEO Rohan Lund said the agreement was a landmark moment, headlined by the first regular season NFL game at the MCG.
NFL General Manager Australia and New Zealand Charlotte Offord said growing fandom in Australia and around the world is central to the NFL’s international strategy.
Offord said the 2026 season will give Australian fans live and free access to key moments. That includes the NFL Melbourne Game and Super Bowl LXI.
Southern Cross Media Group Director of Sport, TV, Audio and Streaming Chris Jones said the rights deal gives Seven a powerful back end to the year of sport. He also said local fan interest in the NFL has never been stronger.
How To Watch
The 2026 NFL season will be available live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport. The historic Melbourne game airs on Friday, 11 September, with main game coverage from 9.00am AEST.
For more NFL coverage, visit TV Central’s NFL section. NFL coverage is available through 7plus Sport.
