The Top 10 Sports in Australia (2026)
| Rank | Sport | National League & Key Driver | Mass Popularity Context (2026) |
| 1 | Australian Rules Football (AFL) | Australian Football League (AFL) (Most attended league globally) | The cultural “winter sport” in the southern and western states. Dominates attendance and media coverage, with the AFL Grand Final being the single largest domestic sporting event. |
| 2 | Cricket | Big Bash League (BBL) & Test Cricket (Ashes) | The definitive “summer sport.” The fast-paced BBL maintains high viewership and attendance, while the Test matches (like the Boxing Day Test) are major national traditions. |
| 3 | Association Football (Soccer) | A-League | Most played team sport at the grassroots level. Viewership and interest are incredibly high, driven by the lasting “Matildas Effect” from the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the passionate following of global leagues (EPL, Champions League). |
| 4 | Rugby League | National Rugby League (NRL) | The cultural “winter sport” dominating the eastern states (NSW and QLD). It generates the highest domestic TV viewership. The 2026 Rugby League World Cup (co-hosted by Australia) will drive massive interest. |
| 5 | Swimming | Australian National Championships | Not a league sport, but has the highest overall participation rate (over 6 million) as a recreational and competitive activity, due to Australia’s beach culture and Olympic success. |
| 6 | Netball | Suncorp Super Netball | One of the most popular female team sports by participation. Its professional league is growing rapidly, boosted by the global exposure from the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, where it is a core sport. |
| 7 | Basketball | National Basketball League (NBL) | Experiencing massive youth growth, driven by successful Australian players in the NBA (e.g., Ben Simmons, Josh Giddey). The NBL is highly popular, especially in major urban centres. |
| 8 | Tennis | Australian Open (Grand Slam) | The Australian Open is one of the nation’s biggest annual sporting events. While participation is high year-round, its ranking is heavily buoyed by the two-week national obsession with this tournament in January. |
| 9 | Rugby Union | Super Rugby (Australian Teams) | Strongest following in NSW and QLD. While its domestic league size has reduced, its popularity remains significant, driven by the national team (Wallabies) competing in international fixtures like The Rugby Championship. |
| 10 | Golf / Motorsports | PGA of Australia / Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix | Golf has high individual participation. Motorsports (specifically the F1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Supercars Championship) draw huge live attendance and TV audiences, making it a powerful commercial property. |
2026 Major Event Impact:
It’s important to note that 2026 is a huge year for Australian sport, which will temporarily boost the visibility and popularity of several codes:
Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games: This multi-sport event (hosted across regional Victoria) will put sports like Netball, Rugby Sevens, Cricket T20, Athletics, and Swimming in the national spotlight for several weeks.
Rugby League World Cup 2026: Co-hosted by Australia (and PNG/NZ), this will be a massive driver of interest for Rugby League across the country, especially in the host cities.
State of Origin: The NRL’s signature three-game series will feature one blockbuster match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2026.
