Kylie Minogue Set to Rock the MCG at AFL Grand Final
In a major coup for Australian sports entertainment, pop legend Kylie Minogue has been confirmed to perform at this year's AFL grand final. The news, exclusively revealed by 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, marks the first time the 57-year-old icon will headline the prestigious event, set to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the last Saturday in September.
Breaking the International Streak
This announcement ends a run of four consecutive international acts, with past performers including Snoop Dogg, KISS, Katy Perry, and Robbie Williams. An official confirmation is expected within the next week, putting to rest earlier speculation that Minogue would only perform under evening lights.
Traditional Start Time Locked In
Simultaneously, the AFL has declared there is no compelling case to shift the grand final to a twilight or night timeslot for the upcoming season. AFL Commission chair Craig Drummond confirmed that the traditional 2.30pm start will remain in place for the 2026 and 2027 grand finals, providing certainty to fans amid an uncertain world.
"In the world that we're now in, which is pretty uncertain, giving certainty to fans for a couple of years is a really sensible idea," Drummond stated on Sunday. He emphasized that extensive consultations with key stakeholders failed to uncover a compelling reason for change, though the league remains open to reassessing options from 2028 onward, particularly with the Tasmania Devils' entry into the competition.
Fan and Stakeholder Reactions
The AFL Fans Association has welcomed the decision to maintain the traditional timeslot. AFLFA president Ron Issko praised the move, noting, "This decision shows that when fans speak clearly, the AFL listens - and that must continue across all major decisions." Drummond and AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon declined to specify what factors might compel a future time shift but reiterated that all options remain on the table if they make sense for a broad range of stakeholders.
Historically, the AFL has only staged two grand finals under lights—during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 at the Gabba and 2021 at Optus Stadium—highlighting the rarity of such changes.
