The 2026 NRL and NRLW seasons are approaching their end.
Once again, the spotlight will shift to the off-field highlights during the premier awards night in league.
On the verge of this year's grand finals, the 2026 Dally M Medal will honor the top male and female players.
James Tedesco, the captain of the Roosters, is the current men's champion, having clinched his second Dally M Medal in 2025.
In the NRLW, Broncos star Tamika Upton also secured her second Dally M Medal.
The 2026 NRL Dally M Medal ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, serving as a prelude to the Grand Final weekend.
Last year's event began at 6:00 p.m. (AEST), so fans can anticipate a similar start time, with the Dally M Medallist revealed shortly after 9:30 p.m.
After Round 12, Dally M voting was conducted privately, and Penrith's halfback Nathan Cleary was leading the count with 38 points, followed by Warriors prop Jackson Ford with 35 and Cleary's Panthers teammate Dylan Edwards with 32.
Despite suffering a severe pectoral injury in Round 16, Ford is still viewed as a contender, but Cleary is a strong favorite to win his first Dally M Medal.
In the women's voting, Brisbane's fullback Tamika Upton is once again in the lead for 2026, alongside Sydney Roosters talents Tarryn Aiken and Isabelle Kelly.