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- Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights meet in the 2026 NRL Grand Final on Sunday 4 October, with kick-off at 7:30pm Sydney time.
- The Clock in Sydney, Wests New Lambton in Newcastle, The Wharf Hotel in Melbourne and KG Sports Bar in Brisbane are our leading options, with more dedicated events across the country.
- Some venues are first come, first served, members-only, 18+ or ticketed, so check the latest access and booking details before heading out.
If you’re not heading to Accor Stadium on Sunday, the couch isn’t your only option. Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights will meet in the 2026 NRL Grand Final at 7:30pm Sydney time on Sunday 4 October. Pubs, clubs, live sites and dedicated watch parties across the country are giving footy fans plenty of places to watch with a crowd.
We’ve already covered all the finer details in our 2026 NRL Grand Final guide, including how to watch it all live on Channel 9 and 9Now, alongside some of the biggest stories heading into Sunday. But without a ticket, you only have one question left to answer: where are you going to watch the game?
You won’t find every single Aussie pub with a television in our list. Instead, we’re keeping things as tight as a leg cramp on the field. Below you’ll find some of the best dedicated Grand Final events, official watch parties and public live sites in Australia. But if you’d rather cast a wider net, we’ve got plenty more pubs, clubs and bar guides for you to peruse before Sunday.
Best Places to Watch the 2026 NRL Grand Final
Whether you’re backing the Roosters, the Knights, or just want somewhere better than the couch, these are some of the best places around Australia to settle in for Grand Final night.
Sydney
For Sydney, we’re starting near the Man of Many office in Surry Hills. The Clock’s NRL Grand Final Street Party is taking the action out onto Crown Street, with a huge live-and-loud street screen, extra TVs throughout the pub, outdoor food stalls, a street bar and DJs keeping things moving around the game. Entry is free, and spots are first come, first served; best not to be tardy for the party.
Roosters fans who want to watch from the club’s home can head to the official Grand Final watch party at easts Bondi Junction. The match will be live and loud in the Bondi Room and Artie’s, but before you join the crowds, a few things to cover: entry is restricted to easts members, but each member can bring one non-member guest. Problem is, they don’t do seating reservations, so you’ll need to get in quickly as capacity is limited. Oh, and for families considering Bondi, the kids will need to leave early: anyone under 18 must be out the door by 3pm.
If you’ve got kids in tow, Waverley Greens is the Roosters’ family-friendly alternative, with under-18s welcome, so long as an adult is looking after them. It’s also first come, first served, with no seat reservations. So don’t dilly-dally.
But if none of those options matches what you’re looking for, our guide to the best pubs in Sydney gives you plenty more places to try.
Newcastle
Newcastle has waited 25 years to get back to a Grand Final, so finding somewhere with a Knights crowd shouldn’t be particularly difficult.
If you want to be amongst what will likely be the largest gathering of Novocastrians, look no further than Wests New Lambton. The game will be shown live and free on the big screens from 7:30pm, with supporters encouraged to turn up in Knights gear, merch up for grabs and Steely making an appearance. There’ll be food and drink promotions running across the day, including a Knights Burger Meal Deal, $3 Knights Hot Dogs at participating Wests venues, and $6 Happy Hours for full members from 4pm to 6pm.
Next on our list is a more traditional pub setup at The Exchange Hotel in Hamilton. The kitchen’s open all day, and pints of Carlton Dry are pouring at schooner prices. How good.
The nearby Hamilton Station Hotel is hosting its own dedicated Grand Final screening from 7:30pm, with free entry and a DJ afterparty once the game wraps.
Then there’s The Beach Hotel in Merewether, which is already fully booked for the day. The NRLW Grand Final starts there at 3:55pm before Newcastle vs Sydney takes over from 7:30pm, with live music kicking off again at 10pm. So why are they on the list? They’ve still got plenty of space for walk-ins, so getting there early matters.
And if a pub doesn’t quite feel big enough for Newcastle’s first Grand Final since 2001, head a little further into the Hunter. Maitland’s free Night of Knights live site opens at Maitland Regional Sportsground from 3:30pm, with the game shown on a 10-metre screen. Before that, they’re replaying Newcastle’s 1997 Grand Final win, with lots of activities for families, plenty of food and enough space to bring a chair or picnic rug.
Melbourne
Melbourne isn’t exactly short on sports bars, so rather than pretending you need another giant list, we’d start with The Wharf Hotel’s dedicated NRL Grand Final event. You can book a table for free or go a little fancier with a match-long bottomless package. You’ll also be able to watch the NRLW Grand Final on the big screens beforehand and enjoy live music through the afternoon, before the men’s decider.
If Docklands doesn’t work for you, we’ve already rounded up the best sports bars in Melbourne for plenty more places to watch.
Brisbane
The Dolphins’ fins might be bent from their loss to the Roosters, but Brisbane can still enjoy the finals, even if they are Queenslanders.
Our top pick is the KG Sports Bar Siren 2 Siren NRL Grand Final package underneath Pullman and Mercure Brisbane King George Square. The match will be shown on 15 screens, with the sound turned all the way up. The $99 per person package includes roaming sliders, wings and fries, plus beer, wine, basic spirits and soft drinks from the opening siren to the final siren.
Just don’t rock up with the kids, as this is an 18+ event and tickets are limited, so don’t be the bloke who remembers to book five minutes before kick-off.
But if you did forget, our guide to the best pubs in Brisbane will help you find somewhere else to watch with your mates.
Elsewhere Around Australia
Now it’s no secret that NRL is more popular in certain parts of the country, but that won’t stop NRL fans from the rest of Australia from tuning in.
Adelaide: The Cremorne Hotel in Unley has a dedicated NRL Grand Final event on 4 October, with the match live and loud on its big screens. If you’re after something elsewhere in town, our best pubs in Adelaide guide has more options.
Perth: Hyde Park Hotel in North Perth is going down the package route, with $60 and $120 bottomless options on offer for the over-18s event. Both include Grand Final viewing, while the premium package adds a wider drinks selection and food. If that’s a little too much, or your local is full, there’s always somewhere else to watch, so check out our best pubs in Perth guide for more options.
Hobart: The Telegraph Hotel is hosting a dedicated NRL Premiership Final event, with the match live and loud. Of course, our best pubs in Hobart guide has even more options available for Sunday’s game.
Canberra: PJs in the City doesn’t normally open on Sundays, but they’re making an exception for the NRL Grand Final. Doors are open from 5pm to 10:30pm; entry is free; the full menu is available; and table bookings are open. If that doesn’t suit, our best bars in Canberra guide has plenty of options.
Darwin: Shenannigans, or Shags, is showing the Grand Final across 14 screens, with a $28 Footy Platter on offer for the occasion.
Where Will You Be Watching the 2026 NRL Grand Final?
That should be enough to get you off the couch without turning this into a directory of every pub with a TV. Just remember that Grand Final week moves quickly, particularly when it comes to bookings, capacity and walk-in space, so check the venue’s latest details before heading out.
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