The series was announced in 2016 with applications open until 9 September 2016, with filming between November & December 2016 on Cockatoo Island. The series was officially confirmed at Nine's upfronts in November 2016 with Rebecca Maddern announced as host. A few days after the announcement, Ben Fordham was announced as second host & Freddie Flintoff as the series' sideline reporter. The series began airing on 9 July 2017. The series was renewed for a second season during the season one final which was filmed between December 2017 & January 2018, with applications that closed by 3 September 2017. On 11 October 2017, the series was officially confirmed for renewal at Nine's upfronts, also confirming Fordham, Maddern & Flintoff returning for the second season. The second season began airing on 8 July 2018. On 17 October 2018, the series was officially renewed for a third season at Nine's upfronts, also confirming Fordham, Maddern & Flintoff returning for the third season. Filming for the series was relocated to Spotswood in Melbourne with filming commencing 15 November until 1 December. The third season began airing on 8 July 2019. On 17 October 2019, the series was officially renewed for a fourth season at Nine's upfronts, also confirming Fordham, Maddern & Flintoff returning for the fourth season. The series will again be relocated, filming will take place at Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nine has introduced Audience Lock-out meaning members of the public can not attend as audience, only family members of contestants will be allowed to attend, as well as co-host Rebecca Maddern, who was put in self-isolation, was temporarily replaced by Shane Crawford for two heats, she has since been cleared and returned to filming. The fourth season began airing on 26 July 2020.
Format
Potential contestants go through a rigorous series of obstacles before the possibility of becoming the next Australian Ninja Warrior and win a cash prize, starting at $100,000. If there is no winner in a season the prize will jackpot and rise by $100,000 until someone eventually conquers Mount Midoriyama. From the third season, the format changed slightly with the most successful contestant who goes the furthest and fastest guaranteed to win $100,000 should they not conquer the course, but will win the growing jackpot should they conquer Mount Midoriyama.
The first season premiered on 9 July 2017, on Nine Network and concluded on 25 July 2017. The season was filmed on Cockatoo Island, Sydney where 50 ninjas ran in each of the six qualifying heats, with the top 18 from each heat moving on to the Semi Finals. From the three semi finals, the top 7 competitors moved on to the Grand Final. 9 Competitors finished stage one of the Grand Final, but none completed stage two.
The second season premiered on 8 July 2018, on Nine Network and concluded on 31 July 2018. The season was filmed on Cockatoo Island, Sydney. In this season there was a total of over 300 ninjas, each was placed into one of the six heats, with the top 20 in each heat advancing to the Semi Finals. In each of the four Semi Finals, the top 8 competitors continued to the Grand Final. In the Grand Final, stage one was completed by 24 competitors, though none of them completed stage two.
Season 3 (2019)
The third season premiered on 8 July 2019 on the Nine Network. The season was filmed in Spotswood, Victoria; and featured 200 ninjas competing across five heats. The top 18 ninjas in each heat advanced to the Semi Finals, and the top ten competitors in each of the three Semi Finals qualified for the Grand Final. In the Grand Final, there were eleven ninjas who successfully completed the first stage of the course. Five competitors progressed to stage three, however all failed to complete this stage. Despite all five ninjas failing at the same obstacle, Charlie Robbins was deemed to be the "Last Ninja Standing" and awarded the $100,000 prize as he was the fastest ninja to reach this point. This does not mean the series had a " winner " as to win you need to conquer the mountain. This season was the first time on Australian Ninja Warrior that any contestant had qualified for the third stage of the course.
Season 4 (2020)
The fourth season premiered on 26 July 2020, on Nine Network. The season was filmed at Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne. In this season there was a total of over 140 ninjas, each was placed into one of the four heats, with the top 16 in each heat advancing to the Semi Finals.
Viewership
International broadcasts
On Australia Day, UKgame show based channel, Challenge, announced that beginning from 18 February 2018, it would start airing episodes of Australian Ninja Warrior.
