The Nine Network has revealed this year’s line-up of partners and sponsors for the 2026 Telstra NRL Season Premiership.
The sponsorship lineup is headlined by Telstra, Harvey Norman, McDonald’s, Youi Insurance, and Sportsbet, all of which maintain category exclusivity across the Men's and Women’s Premierships, State of Origin, and the Finals Series.
Other sponsors include Ford, Kia, and Isuzu UTE, alongside Westpac, Chemist Warehouse, and Lion. Newcomers Carnival Cruise Line and Jim Beam join as Sunday Afternoon sponsors, while Universal Pictures has taken placement at the State of Origin series.
With more than 145 games live and free on the 9Network, Nine maintains the exclusive men’s and women’s State of Origin, the men’s Finals series, and the entire NRLW Premiership.
“Nine’s offering goes from strength to strength and, for brands, our ‘always on’ strategy provides the ultimate marketing platform that spans the majority of the year,” says Andrew Cann, Nine’s national commercial director - sport.
Nine’s 2026 strategy, ‘More Tackles & More Wins’, centres on the 24/7 fan experience. Advertisers will now benefit from Australia’s first fully virtual 360-degree studio - utilised during the Winter Olympics - and enhanced player storytelling.
NRL on Nine provides brands with an increasing number of platforms to connect with rugby league fans through Nine's 24/7 content and conversations. Platforms include 100% Footy as well as the iconic Wide World of Sports every Sunday, through to podcasts, 9Now specials, and radio’s WWOS Continuous Call Team.
Nine has announced new commercial opportunities, including a high-impact 15-second Solus spot immediately following conversion attempts on Nine Radio’s Continuous Call Team, in an attempt to be at the forefront of the game’s most intense moments.
“In 2026, we are going beyond the full 80 minutes to ensure brands connect with highly-engaged NRL fans like never before,” says Sarah Stewart, Nine's director of content partnerships and client experience in Powered.
“We will be delivering nearly 900 hours of NRL content this year and, with the upcoming entry of the Perth Bears in 2027, we are providing a runway for brands to activate their marketing campaigns on a national scale never before seen in the NRL.”
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