Kylie Minogue’s AFL Grand Final entertainment debut sparked a wave of disappointment among viewers watching the pre-game show on Saturday.
The 58-year-old Australian pop superstar performed a 20-minute set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, reportedly earning $3 million for the high-profile appearance.
Minogue began with her 2001 hit Love At First Sight, but many fans at home quickly criticised the sound and staging, with some branding the performance “horrendously bad.”
“So far Kylie isn’t really doing it for me,” one viewer posted online. Another described the set as “Kylie doing karaoke versions of her own songs.”
A third commenter acknowledged Minogue’s status as an Australian music icon, but added: “This has been horrendously bad.”
“This Kylie pre-game performance is bloody shocking — she’s not even singing,” another social media user claimed.
Kylie Minogue, 58, faced a mixed response from fans during her pre-game performance before the 2026 AFL Grand Final on Saturday
The criticism continued as viewers questioned the overall production. “This pre-show is very, very ordinary. The band doesn’t seem to be playing at all, and I’m not sure Kylie was a great choice,” one person wrote.
“I like Kylie, but the sound isn’t good,” another viewer commented, while a third said fans were viewing the performance through “rose-coloured glasses” and insisted it was “not very good at all.”
Several viewers also took aim at the audio mix and the timing of the dancers accompanying the Padam Padam hitmaker.
“Is this supposed to sound like a backyard karaoke version of a Kylie concert?” one frustrated fan asked.
Another offered a more measured assessment, praising Minogue’s performance skills and the visuals while criticising the sound. “Kylie is a great performer and the visuals are good, but her sound is way off. That’s what we’re judging it by, and so far this is pretty average. What a shame.”
“Is it just me, or does her audio seem off?” one user asked. Another added: “Every dancer is out of time, making Kylie look second-class.”
The pop icon performed a 20-minute set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with reports claiming she was paid $3 million for the AFL Grand Final appearance
The set opened with Love At First Sight, but many viewers at home criticised the sound and called the performance “horrendously bad”
Despite the backlash, other fans rushed to defend the Melbourne-born singer and praised her contribution to the AFL Grand Final pre-game entertainment.
“Putting recency bias aside, this is the greatest pre-game performance of all time,” one supporter declared.
Another wrote: “I have to say Kylie is killing it during the pre-game entertainment. Absolutely brilliant!”
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“Anyone saying this is bad needs to learn how to have fun,” a third fan argued.
“KYLIE KILLING IT AT THE #AFLGF,” another enthusiastic viewer posted.
Kylie opened her set with Love At First Sight before performing some of her biggest hits, including The Loco-Motion, Can’t Get You Out of My Head and Confide In Me.
Kylie opened her set with Love At First Sight before performing some of her biggest hits, including The Loco-Motion, Can’t Get You Out of My Head and Confide In Me
She then later sang her latest chart-topper Padam Padam with G Flip
She then later sang her latest chart-topper Padam Padam with G Flip.
Ahead of her pre-game performance, Kylie revealed she felt ‘nervous’ about her spectacular, which featured around 100 dancers and her biggest hits.
‘I am nervous, excited right now. I am all those things,’ she said during a press conference in Melbourne on Friday, according to News 24.
‘When it comes to just about to go on, maybe I will feel right at home. I don’t know.’
Kylie has been rehearsing at the MCG all week for the footy gig, looking far younger than her years as she donned a series of fashionable looks.
At one stage, Kylie reached death-defying heights as she was lifted high above the stadium on a small podium while going through her setlist.
Rigged up with a safety harness to prevent her from plunging to the ground below, Kylie launched into a high-octane song and dance routine.
Aided by a whole team of helpers, she later changed into a distressed shirt dress, this time with the words ‘I’m home’ emblazoned across the front.
The Padam Padam hitmaker appeared before a sell-out crowd at the 100,000-seat MCG.
Her 20-minute gig is set to net the pint-sized pop star a hefty payday.
Kylie is believed to be walking home with a whopping $3million for her highly anticipated show.
Her enormous payday was reported by New Idea, after the AFL recently confirmed that Kylie was on their ‘wish list’ for some time.