Want to watch the 2026 NRL Grand Final for free?
If you’re in Australia, you can watch it live on Channel 9 or stream it online for free on 9Now.
If you’re an Australian overseas, X-VPN Free includes Australian servers on iOS and Android, with no X-VPN account required. Jump to the How to Watch the 2026 NRL Grand Final Outside Australia for Free section below.
💡 Tip: The Sydney Roosters will face the Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Sunday, October 4. Kick-off is at 7:30 pm AEDT. All you need to use 9Now is a free Nine account.
Table of Contents
How to Watch the NRL Grand Final for Free on 9Now in Australia (Step by Step)
If you’re in Australia, watching the NRL Grand Final on 9Now only takes four steps:
Step 1. Create or Sign In to a Free Nine Account
Open 9Now.com.au or the 9Now app, click Log in in the top-right corner, then sign in or create an account.
If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to enter your email address, create a password, and provide an Australian postcode. Nine will then send a six-digit verification code to your email. Enter the code to verify your account.
It’s best to get this done before game day. Waiting until Sunday night to sign up is an easy way to miss the start of the match.
Step 2. Go to Sport and Open the NRL Grand Final
Once you’re signed in, select Sport from the top menu → open the NRL Season 2026 section → Select Live & Upcoming.
Open the NRL Season 2026 section
Select Live & Upcoming
You’ll see the upcoming Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights Grand Final there. Open the event when the live stream becomes available.
9Now also offers Channel 9 through its Live TV section.
Step 3. Start Watching
The NRL Grand Final kicks off at 7:30 pm AEDT, but there’s plenty happening before the main game.
The State Championship starts at 1:20 pm, the NRLW Grand Final kicks off at 4:00 pm, and Accor Stadium currently lists the Pre-game Show for 7:00 pm.
Prefer regular TV? You can also watch Channel 9 free-to-air with an antenna, so you don’t need to use 9Now.
How to Watch the 2026 NRL Grand Final Outside Australia For Free
If you’re an Australian travelling or living overseas and want to watch the NRL Grand Final on 9Now, X-VPN Free includes Australian servers. On iOS and Android, free users can manually select Australia, and you don’t need to create an X-VPN account.
If you’re overseas for Grand Final weekend, here’s how to try it:
Step 1. Download X-VPN on your iPhone & iPad, or Android device.
Step 2. The free version doesn’t require an account. Just open X-VPN and start using it.
Step 3. Open the server list and select Free → Australia.
Step 4. Once connected, open 9Now.
Step 5. Sign in to your Nine account, then go to watch NRL Grand Final now.
2026 NRL Grand Final Date, Time, Teams and Official Schedule
Detail | 2026 NRL Grand Final |
|---|---|
Teams | Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights |
Date | Sunday, October 4, 2026 |
Kick-off | 7:30 pm AEDT |
Venue | Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park |
Free online stream in Australia | 9Now |
Free-to-air TV | Channel 9 |
The Newcastle Knights beat the Panthers 22-14 to reach their first Grand Final since 2001. The Roosters defeated the Dolphins 36-20 to reach their first Grand Final since 2019.
What Time Does the NRL Grand Final Start Where I Live?
The official kick-off time is 7:30 pm AEDT. However, because daylight saving begins in parts of Australia on Grand Final Day, the local kick-off time isn’t 7:30 everywhere.
Location | Local Kick-off Time |
|---|---|
Sydney / Melbourne / Canberra / Hobart | 7:30 pm |
Adelaide | 7:00 pm |
Brisbane | 6:30 pm |
Darwin | 6:00 pm |
Perth | 4:30 pm |
Auckland | 9:30 pm |
London | 9:30 am |
New York | 4:30 am |
Los Angeles | 1:30 am |
If you’re in Queensland, this is especially easy to get wrong.
Sydney switches to daylight saving on October 4, while Queensland does not observe daylight saving. That means a 7:30 pm kick-off in Sydney is 6:30 pm in Brisbane.
NRL Grand Final Day Schedule
All times below are AEDT.
Time | Event |
|---|---|
1:00 pm | Accor Stadium gates open |
1:20 pm | State Championship: Penrith Panthers vs Redcliffe Dolphins |
4:00 pm | NRLW Grand Final: Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos |
7:00 pm | Pre-game Show |
7:30 pm | NRL Grand Final: Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights |
Last updated: October 3, 2026
Accor Stadium has published the full matchups and schedule for the day, while the NRL’s official Grand Final guide confirms the 1:20 pm, 4:00 pm, and 7:30 pm kick-off times.
Grand Final Week plans can still change, so if you’re reading this closer to Sunday, check the latest official schedule from the NRL or Accor Stadium.
What Is 9Now?
9Now is Nine’s free streaming service. It provides live and on-demand content from Nine’s TV channels, including Channel 9, 9Gem, 9Go!, 9Life, and 9Rush. You’ll need to create a free Nine account before you can watch.
For this year’s NRL Grand Final, the easiest way to think about it is:
Channel 9 = free-to-air TV
9Now = Nine’s free online stream
So if you only want to watch the 2026 NRL Grand Final, you don’t need to buy a separate paid sports subscription.
Final Whistle
If you’re in Australia, watching the 2026 NRL Grand Final is simple:
Open 9Now → Sign in → Go to Live TV → Open Channel 9 → Join the stream before the 7:30 pm AEDT kick-off.
If you’re overseas for Grand Final weekend, it’s best to connect to a free Australian server with X-VPN ahead of the game so you’re ready before kick-off.
FAQ
Can I Watch the NRL Grand Final for Free on 9Now?
Yes. 9Now is free to use, and the NRL lists Nine and 9Now as the official Australian broadcast options for the 2026 NRL Grand Final.
You’ll need a Nine account to use 9Now, but you don’t need a paid sports subscription.
What Time Does the 2026 NRL Grand Final Start?
The 2026 NRL Grand Final kicks off at 7:30 pm AEDT on Sunday, October 4. That’s 6:30 pm in Brisbane and 4:30 pm in Perth.
Can I Watch the NRL Grand Final Live on Kayo?
No. Kayo will show every match in the 2026 NRL Finals Series before the Grand Final live, but the Grand Final itself is only available on delay.
So if you’re in Australia and want to watch the Grand Final live, use Channel 9 or 9Now.
Who Is Playing in the 2026 NRL Grand Final?
The Sydney Roosters will face the Newcastle Knights in the 2026 Grand Final.
Where Is the 2026 NRL Grand Final Being Played?
The match will be played at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Sunday, October 4.
Where Can I Buy 2026 NRL Grand Final Tickets?
The regular ticket allocation is now sold out.
Accor Stadium says the only official way to get tickets now is through Ticketmaster Resale. Ticketmaster Australia is the only authorised ticketing provider for the NRL Grand Final, while Ticketmaster Resale is the only authorised resale platform. Tickets purchased elsewhere may be invalid and could be refused at the gate.
Who Is Performing at the 2026 NRL Grand Final?
Accor Stadium has confirmed a Pre-game Show at 7:00 pm.
However, this year’s entertainment plans have changed several times. Peter V’landys said this week that there will be a mystery 11-minute performance before kick-off. Reports published on September 30 suggest the segment will centre on a tribute to Jai Arrow, with Australian musicians performing You’ll Never Walk Alone. The musicians involved have not yet been officially announced.
Can I Watch the NRL Grand Final on 9Now Outside Australia?
If you’re an Australian overseas and want to keep using 9Now, you can manually connect to an Australian server with X-VPN Free on iOS or Android — no X-VPN account required — and then try opening 9Now.
Who Won the 2025 NRL Grand Final?
The Brisbane Broncos beat the Melbourne Storm 26-22 to win the 2025 NRL Grand Final.
The Broncos trailed 22-12 at half-time before completing the comeback. Reece Walsh won the Clive Churchill Medal for his performance, and it was Brisbane’s first NRL premiership since 2006
