The AFL Grand Final holiday is a brand-new holiday in Victoria, Australia. It happens every year on the Friday before the big Australian Football League Grand Final game. People also call it “AFL Grand Final Friday.”
In 2025, this holiday will be on Friday, September 26. It’s a day to get excited for the big football game and have fun!
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 Sep | Fri | AFL Grand Final Friday | VIC |
| 2026 | TBA | AFL Grand Final Friday | VIC | |
| 2027 | TBA | AFL Grand Final Friday | VIC |
“Grand Final Friday” is a new holiday in Victoria, Australia, that happens the day before the big Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final game. The people who run Victoria promised to make this a holiday, and they did! It’s a day off to have fun with family and friends and get ready to cheer for Australia’s favorite sport, football. Some people say Aussies love football so much it’s like a super big hobby!
This holiday costs a lot of money—about $850 million, according to a study—but many people think it’s worth it to spend time together and celebrate the game. Victoria already has another sports holiday called Melbourne Cup Day for horse racing, so now football gets its own special day too!
Football is a big deal in Victoria. A long time ago, the AFL was called the Victorian Football League (VFL) because all the teams were from Victoria. It started in 1897 and was called the VFL until 1989. Then, in 1990, it changed to the AFL because teams from other states joined in.
Now, the AFL has 18 teams, and every state except Tasmania has at least one team. The AFL season has three parts: a pre-season, a regular season from March to September, and a playoff season. The playoffs include the top eight teams, and they play for four rounds. The last game, called the AFL Grand Final, is always played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
AFL Grand Final Holidays Events
If you’re in Victoria on AFL Grand Final Friday, here are two awesome things you don’t want to miss:
- The Parade: On the day before the big game, called Grand Final Eve, there’s a super cool parade! Tons of people line the streets to watch. You’ll see fans wearing their team’s uniforms, waving flags, and cheering. There are colorful balloons, team mascots, and so much excitement! The parade starts at the Old Treasury Building, goes through the city, and ends at the stadium.
- The Central Business District (CBD): This is the busiest and most fun part of town during the holiday! You can visit shops selling cool stuff like T-shirts, beanies, and scarves with your favorite team’s colors and logos. Plus, there are yummy cafes and bakeries where you can grab a snack and relax.

Get ready for a fun day cheering for your team!
Previous Year AFL Dates
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27 Sep | Fri | AFL Grand Final Friday | VIC |
| 2023 | 29 Sep | Fri | AFL Grand Final Friday | VIC |
