The NRL Grand Final will remain in Sydney in 2026, with the NSW Government securing rugby league’s showpiece event in a multimillion-dollar agreement.
After weeks of speculation and fierce competition from rival states, the deal ensures Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park will once again host the decider, cementing the Harbour City’s place as the home of grand final day.
Premier Chris Minns was determined to keep the event in Sydney, fending off lucrative bids from Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, who were eager to lure the blockbuster away as reported in the Daily Telegraph.
Talks are also understood to be ongoing about securing the game in Sydney beyond 2026, with the potential for a longer-term agreement that could extend into 2027 and beyond.
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The NSW Government’s successful bid follows years of pressure to retain the grand final, especially after the Covid-affected 2021 season saw the decider moved to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium for the first time in history.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys had previously floated the idea of rotating the event around the country in a Super Bowl-style format, but for now, the tradition remains firmly in place.
When quizzed earlier this week, V’landys played coy, jokingly telling reporters the grand final was heading to Las Vegas before refusing to confirm Sydney’s status until today’s announcement.
Rugby league legend Wayne Bennett has long argued that the decider should never leave Sydney, describing grand final day at Accor Stadium as one of the sport’s most iconic traditions.
And for at least another year, the game’s biggest stage will stay where many believe it belongs — under the bright lights of Sydney.