Nine announces comprehensive NRL sponsorship lineup for 2026 season

Nine has announced its comprehensive sponsorship lineup for the 2026 Telstra NRL Premiership, according to LBB Online.

The Australian media company's lineup is headlined by Telstra, Harvey Norman, McDonald's, Youi Insurance and Sportsbet, all of whom maintain significant category exclusivity across the men's and women's premierships, State of Origin and the finals series. Joining them are Ford, Kia and Isuzu UTE, alongside Westpac, Chemist Warehouse and Lion.

Newcomers Carnival Cruise Line and Jim Beam join as full Sunday afternoon sponsors, while Universal Pictures takes a strategic position within the State of Origin series. The partnership comes as the NRL begins its final season before the Perth Bears join in 2027 to establish rugby league's presence nationally.

With more than 145 matches live and free on the 9Network, including exclusive men's and women's State of Origin and the men's finals series, as well as the entire NRLW Premiership, Nine's rugby league ecosystem gives brands access to a diverse audience at scale.

Andrew Cann, national commercial director for sport at Nine, said the company's offering goes from strength to strength. "For brands, our 'always on' strategy provides the ultimate marketing platform that spans the majority of the year. We are privileged to welcome back our returning partners and sponsors, as well as the new brands joining us," he stated.

Sarah Stewart, director of content partnerships and client experience at Nine, said the company is going beyond the full 80 minutes to ensure brands connect with highly engaged NRL fans. "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," she noted.

With 77 per cent of fans agreeing Nine's broadcast offers the best viewing experience across all sporting events, the 2026 season is positioned as a significant marketing platform.

Explore complete sponsorship details in the full report.