Foxtel Media has unveiled a top-tier line-up of new sponsors as well as returning powerhouse brands for the 2026 NRL season.
New sponsors Red Bull, Bunnings, Club 4x4 Insurance and Youi join returning brands including Westpac, AAMI, McDonald’s, Chemist Warehouse, Sportsbet, Aussie Broadband, Harvey Norman, KFC, Ford, Toyota and Ashley & Martin for the 2026 season that launched in Las Vegas.
Engaged audiences and a stacked sponsorship roster saw Fox League deliver serious results for brands last year. Over the 2025 NRL season, niche advertisers scored a 154% uplift in ad recall, while established brands posted a +12% increase, alongside a 13% rise in brand perception and 7% growth in consideration.
In this impact arena for brands, momentum is building in 2026, with 39% of advertisers new to the opening round compared to 2025. Foxtel Media’s expanded programmatic inventory has also allowed a variety of brands to enter the game, opening up premium buys for local and regional small businesses such as GlanEry (VIC), Vital Strength (NSW), Montgomery Homes (NSW), Bank WAW (WA), Funlab (VIC) and Toscano’s Authentic (VIC).
Nev Hasan, Chief Sales Officer at Foxtel Media, said: “NRL is not only one of the largest and most loved sports by Australians, but a high-impact arena for brands ready to compete. Foxtel invests $1 billion in sports rights and production each year, helping leagues to drive growth in participation and improved community facilities and programs, which is why we are seeing a surge of new brands joining the game, alongside the continued investment of our long-term partners.”
Groundbreaking new technology, including FOX AI, will be introduced across Fox League coverage for 2026. In partnership with Red Bull, FOX AI will deliver real-time player analysis and data-driven insights across all live matches, pre- and post-game shows, Sunday Night with Matty Johns, and Fox League’s social and editorial platforms, enhancing fan engagement and creating deeper storytelling for commentary.
Bolstering Fox League’s world-class commentary team in 2026, are recently retired star-Premiership winner and Kiwi international Kieran Foran and three-time Premiership player Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who will bring fresh, off-the-field perspectives to the coverage.
“At Foxtel Media, we live and breathe this game just like the fans do. From expert analysis to production, Foxtel Media provides a market-leading premium environment for brands and viewers alike. Will the Panthers stay on top, or can teams like the Roosters, Broncos, or Raiders make 2026 a historic year? Our watchability makes the games all the more exciting and we can’t wait to see what season 2026 has in store,” Hasan added.