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The 2026 AFL Grand Final is on Saturday 26 September at the MCG, with first bounce at 2:30pm AEST.
Short answer: Saturday 26 September 2026, 2:30pm AEST at the MCG. If you're here to sort out the date and then get on with planning something, the rest of this covers what you need.
The 2026 AFL Grand Final is on Saturday 26 September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The AFL holds it on the last Saturday in September most years, which is why it moves around a bit. It caps a 25-round season and a finals series that runs five weeks in 2026, the first time it's been stretched that far.
First bounce is 2:30pm AEST. Play usually wraps around 5pm depending on quarter lengths and whether extra time is needed.
The AFL tried twilight and night starts a few years back and went back to the afternoon slot after fans made their preference clear.
In Victoria, yes. Friday 25 September 2026 is Grand Final Eve, a public holiday introduced in 2015. The Grand Final Parade runs through the city that morning, and the free AFL Footy Fest takes over Yarra Park from the Wednesday.
No other state or territory has the day off. Plenty of workplaces elsewhere still knock off early or run a tipping comp.
If you're organising something for the office, the Friday is usually the day it happens. It's also a public holiday, so book any delivery early because spots are limited.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday 26 September |
| 2027 | Saturday 25 September |
| 2028 | Saturday 30 September |
| 2029 | Saturday 29 September |
| 2030 | Saturday 28 September |
| Year | Premiers | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Brisbane Lions | Geelong Cats |
| 2024 | Brisbane Lions | Sydney Swans |
| 2023 | Collingwood | Brisbane Lions |
| 2022 | Geelong Cats | Sydney Swans |
| 2021 | Melbourne | Western Bulldogs |
Brisbane went back-to-back in 2025, beating Geelong by 47 points with Will Ashcroft taking his second Norm Smith Medal. Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood share the record for most premierships with 16 each.
Channel 7 broadcasts it free to air, and 7plus streams it on most devices. For radio, SEN, Triple M and ABC Grandstand all call the game.
Tickets go to AFL and club members first, so if you missed out, the Parade on the Friday and Footy Fest at Yarra Park are both free and worth turning up for.
The game runs about two and a half hours, so people arrive early and stay after. Plan for food that holds up across an afternoon rather than one big spread at the start.
What usually works
If the room is split between two clubs, order for both. It settles the argument and gives people something to be smug about.
We bake for ten clubs. Everything comes out of our Melbourne bakery and goes into bulk packs sized for a few mates through to a whole office.
Collingwood Magpies Cupcakes, Carlton Blues Cupcakes, Geelong Cats Cupcakes and Brisbane Lions Cupcakes all deliver Australia-wide.
The donuts are Melbourne only and they're vegan, which is handy if you've got someone in the group who usually misses out. Have a look at Collingwood Magpies Donuts or Melbourne Demons Donuts.
Browse the full AFL Grand Final collection for every club we bake for, plus customisable boxes if yours isn't there.
Same-day delivery across Melbourne on orders placed by 1PM, and until 11AM on Grand Final day itself if you've left it late.
Cupcakes deliver Australia-wide. Pick your delivery date at checkout. Donuts are Melbourne only.
Grand Final week is one of our busiest and this range usually sells out, so get your order in earlier than you think you need to. Add a confetti explosion card and the box goes off when the lid lifts.
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