Australia’s Own Pop Princess Kylie Minogue Is Headlining The 2026 AFL Grand Final

Australia’s own pop princess Kylie Minogue will take to the stage this September, headlining the pre-game entertainment at the 2026 AFL Grand Final.

The performance has been years in the making, with the AFL and Mushroom Group revealing that Minogue has long been on their wish list for footy’s biggest day.

“The Toyota AFL Grand Final is the biggest event on the Australian sporting calendar—and this year, we welcome home an Australian icon,” AFL CEO Andrew Dillon says.

Kylie Mingogue At The AFL Grand Final: Everything We Know So Far

While few details about Minogue’s pre-game performance have been confirmed, we do know it will mark her first-ever AFL Grand Final appearance, with organisers promising one of the biggest pre-game shows in the event’s history.

The Melbourne-born star recently visited the MCG for the official Grand Final content shoot, giving her a first taste of the venue ahead of September’s performance.

After loud calls from footy fans in recent years for local talent to headline the game-day entertainment, Minogue feels like the perfect fit. Her career has taken her from Neighbours in Nunawading to global pop stardom, with hits including Can’t Get You Out of My Head, Spinning Around, Better the Devil You Know, Padam Padam and The Loco-Motion.

“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,” Minogue says.

Mushroom Group is working closely with Minogue’s team to create and produce the show, which it expects will be among the Grand Final’s most memorable pre-game performances yet.

When And Where Is The 2026 AFL Grand Final? 

The 2026 AFL Grand Final will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, 26 September.

While the AFL had been toying with the idea of a twilight match—and Minogue had reportedly stated this was her preference for a performance—the league has now committed to a traditional daytime bounce for the next two years.

The game will start at 2.30pm AEST. While performance times are yet to be confirmed, last year’s pre-game headliner, Snoop Dogg, started at 1.43pm ahead of the same bounce time, so it’s safe to assume 2026 will follow a similar schedule.

How To Get Tickets To The 2026 Afl Grand Final

General ticketing details for the 2026 AFL Grand Final have not yet been released. Match-specific on-sale times and member purchasing information will be published through the AFL’s Finals Series Ticketing Hub as they become available.

Club members should monitor communications from their respective teams for Grand Final registration details, including ballot dates, priority groups and eligibility requirements. As ticket allocations are limited, registering for a club ballot may not guarantee a ticket.

Further information will be announced as the finals series progresses and the competing teams are confirmed.

Past AFL Grand Final Performers

Over the past decade, the AFL Grand Final has seen hosted both international and home-grown talent, headliners include: 

2025: Snoop Dogg

2024: Katy Perry

2023: KISS

2022: Robbie Williams

2021: Birds of Tokyo 

2020: DMA'S, Cub Sport, and Sheppard

2019: Paul Kelly

2018: The Black Eyed Peas

2017: The Killers

2016: Sting

Image: Kylie Minogue | Instagram