Touchdown: First Australian NFL game date locked in

Melbourne is about to make global sporting history in September 2026, becoming the first city ever to host an international tennis Grand Slam, a Formula One Grand Prix, and an NFL Regular Season game in the same calendar year.

NFL Comes to Australia
- Match-up: Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers (NFC West rivalry)
- Date & Venue: September 11, 2026 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
- Kick-off: 10:35 AM AEST (Friday morning in Australia) / 5:35 PM PST (Thursday evening primetime in the US)
- Historic First: The first-ever NFL Regular Season game in Australia

Demand & Ticketing
- Over 151,000 fans have registered interest, surging by 50,000 after the 49ers were confirmed as opponents.
- Ticket Sales Timeline:
- Pre-sale (Team Fans, US): April 1, 2026, 2:00 PM PT
- Hospitality Packages: April 6, 2026, 5:00 PM PT via Ticketmaster
- General Public Sale: April 7, 2026, 5:00 PM PT at ticketmaster.com.au/nfl
- On Location Early Access: April 1, 2026 via https://onlocationexp.com/nfl/nfl-australia-tickets

Tourism Impact
- Thousands of American fans expected to travel, boosting Melbourne’s tourism economy.
- Builds on Visit Victoria’s partnership with the NFL and Rams, which has already promoted Melbourne’s dining, wildlife (Phillip Island penguins), and golf courses to US audiences.
- The US is a key market: 216,000 visitors in 2025, staying 2.4 million nights and spending $391 million.

Voices
- Stephanie Cheng (Rams Head of International): Called it “an already historic moment” and praised Melbourne’s excitement.
- Brendan McClements (Visit Victoria CEO): Framed the game as “more than a match — an invitation to experience Victoria.”
- Charlotte Offord (NFL GM, Australia & NZ): Confirmed the hype and appetite for this landmark game.

Melbourne’s 2026 Events Calendar
- Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (March)
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival (until April 19)
- Winter Masterpieces: Cartier Exhibition (June 12 – Oct 4)
- AFL Grand Final (Sept 26, MCG)
- Australian Open Golf (Dec 3–6, Kingston Heath, featuring Rory McIlroy)

This NFL showdown is not just a game — it’s a cultural milestone that places Melbourne firmly on the world stage as a city of sport, food, and entertainment.