Grab your footballs and your feathers because Kylie is coming to the pitch!
It’s been a solid couple of weeks for Kylie Minogue fans. From collaborating on a Chanel ad with the one-and-only Margot Robbie to news of being tapped for a private performance for billionaire Anthony Pratt, the AFL have now just announced that she will headline the 2026 AFL grand final entertainment.
The AFL grand final is known for it’s stand-out headline performances as in recent years, the pre-game show has showcased international headliners from Snoop Dog to Katy Perry.
This year, the performance will be much more personal as Australia’s favourite pop icon is coming home and ready to perform again on home turf.
Kylie Minogue will headline the 2026 AFL grand final
Kylie Minogue’s pre-game grand final performance will mark the first time in four years that an Australian star has opened the show.
After news of the global star’s headlining of the Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment broke this morning on March 30, Kylie shared her excitement about the announcement in a statement with the AFL.
“The AFL Grand Final at Melbourne’s one and only, forever iconic MCG? Yes please!” she said. “As a Melburnian, I’m so excited to be coming home for the biggest day in the Aussie sporting calendar. I’ll not only be performing, but I’ll be one of 100,000 fans at the ‘G, watching the wonder that is footy.”
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon revealed that “Kylie had been on [their] wish list for a long time, and there is no better artist for headline the performance prior to our biggest game of the season.”
This will be the first time the star has performed at the final, despite a global music career spanning almost 40 years.
When is the 2026 AFL Grand Final?
The AFL grand final will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Kylie will headline the pre-game entertainment and the match will kick off at 2:30pm AEST.
How to watch the 2026 AFL Grand Final?
The 2026 AFL Grand Final will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and is available to stream for free on the 7plus app and website.
Who else has headlined the AFL Grand Final?
In recent years, headliners for the iconic sporting event have included Snoop Dog, Katy Perry, KISS, and Robbie Williams.
Following Katy Perry’s performance in 2024, the AFL received a bit of backlash about the lack of “local artists” that were chosen for the event, despite the public loving her performance (I mean, it’s Katy Perry, how could you not?!).
In 2020, this grand final marked the first to be held outside of Victoria and as a result, the pre-game entertainment featured all Queensland acts ranging from Thelma Plum to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
However, in the past, the AFL grand final has become infamous for it’s hits and misses. From the infamous 2011 Meatloaf performance where every line was butchered to the 2016 Sting performance and 2017 The Killers success, the AFL grand final is certainly a cultural moment for Australians, and 2026 is looking to be another one for the books.
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