- Published:
- Thursday 27 November 2025 at 9:00 am
The Allan Labor Government is bringing back one of Australia’s biggest sporting rivalries, with New South Wales and Queensland set to do battle at the MCG during next year’s NRL State of Origin.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today said the blockbuster on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 is expected to draw tens of thousands of interstate fans and deliver significant benefits for local jobs and businesses.
The clash will deliver huge television audiences and create demand from interstate travellers eager to experience the action live.
Pre-sale tickets for the match in Melbourne will go on sale from 10:00am today, with tickets available to the general public from 10:00am tomorrow (28 November).
Next year’s match will mark the 11th time an Origin game has been played in Victoria, following the electrifying 2024 showdown in front of 90,084 fans at the MCG, which had an economic return of more than $40 million.
The stadium holds the record for the top two crowds in Origin history, with the 2015 fixture also drawing enormous crowds and converting viewers into visitors.
In 2024, more than a quarter of attendees travelled from interstate, driving more than $44 million in economic activity as visitors filled hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés across the city.
The event joins an already bumper line-up of events secured by the Labor Government in 2026, including the Australian Open Golf at Royal Melbourne Golf Club featuring Rory McIlroy, Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: Cartier and the NFL’s first-ever Regular Season game played in Australia.
Tickets for the Melbourne game start at $49 for an adult or $139 for a family and further details can be found at nrl.com/tickets.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos
“Melbourne doesn’t just host big events, we elevate them. The biggest ever Origin crowds have been at the MCG and we’re excited to see another huge game here next year.”
“Every major event we secure boosts our record $43.7 billion visitor economy – supporting local jobs and businesses and showcasing the best of our state to a global audience.”
Quote attributable to Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements
“Events like State of Origin create demand from fans watching on across the country and help convert thousands of people from viewers into visitors.”