Your essential guide to the 2025 AFL Grand Final celebrations! Get the Grand Final Parade route, times, and the massive pre-match entertainment lineup featuring Snoop Dogg.”Your essential guide to the 2025 AFL Grand Final celebrations! Get the Grand Final Parade route, times, and the massive pre-match entertainment lineup featuring Snoop Dogg.

The 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final is set to be a spectacular celebration both on and off the field, with festivities transforming Melbourne into a sporting carnival headlined by the traditional Grand Final Parade and a star-studded pre-match entertainment lineup featuring an international hip-hop legend.

The Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Brisbane Lions will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The Iconic Grand Final Parade

The day before the final, Friday, September 26, is a public holiday in Victoria, dedicated to the Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade. This event offers fans a chance to see their heroes up close before the biggest day in Australian sport.

Time and Route: The parade begins its official motorcade at approximately 10:30 am AEST. The route is designed to maximize fan viewing, starting at the Melbourne Park Oval, moving through the Birrarung Marr precinct, over the William Barak Bridge, and into the MCG Yarra Park Precinct.
Best Viewing Spots: The best places to catch the action, including pre-parade entertainment starting at 9:00 am, are the Melbourne Park Oval and the elevated Birrarung Marr precinct.
Grand Finale: The parade culminates at the Macca’s Footy Fest at Yarra Park, where the two Grand Final teams and the 2025 Premiership Cup are presented on the main stage around midday. This year’s procession will also pay homage to the broader football community by including representatives from the NAB AFLW Competition and the Toyota AFL Open.

Star-Studded Pre-Match Entertainment

The build-up to the first bounce at the MCG will be an entertainment spectacle headlined by global music icon Snoop Dogg at the Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment show.

Headliner: American rapper, record producer, and actor Snoop Dogg will lead the show, performing live in front of the 100,000-strong crowd.
Australian Talent: Supporting the international act is a lineup of acclaimed Australian artists, including multitalented performer Tash Sultana and ARIA Award-winning singer and rapper Baker Boy, who will be performing with a choir featuring Emma Donovan and Kee’ahn.
Tradition: Legendary Australian musician Mike Brady AM will return to perform the iconic footy anthem, “Up There Cazaly,” and Vera Blue has been confirmed to sing the Australian National Anthem just before the game begins at 2:30 pm AEST.

Macca’s Footy Fest: The Ultimate Fan Zone

The Macca’s Footy Fest is the free, four-day live site running from Wednesday, September 24, to Saturday, September 27, at Yarra Park. It serves as the hub of the Grand Final week’s public celebrations, featuring:

Player appearances, giveaways, and an AFL Play zone.
The Toyota Legendary Dodgems and an array of food and beverage options, making it a family-friendly destination for the entire Grand Final weekend.