With the Australian markets, and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) specifically, being on quite the roller coaster of 2026 to date, ASX investors have arguably never valued the security of receiving dividend income more. Share prices have risen and fallen this year, minting on-paper gains and losses respectively. But dividends represent locked-in returns, making them a valuable cushion for all the volatility that this year has brought thus far. With that in mind, let's talk about three ASX dividend shares that I would buy for income in September 2026.
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Three ASX dividend shares to buy for income today
First up, we'll start with a favourite of dividend investors. Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) has long been a top pick for those seeking income on our share market. This venerable telco has been a hefty dividend payer for decades. This company's dominant mobile infrastructure and superlative network coverage make it the first choice for millions of Australians seeking reliable mobile or fixed-line internet and telephony.
This makes Telstra's earnings base, and thus dividend capacity, highly resilient. At recent prices, Telstra shares were trading on a decent dividend yield of 4.35%.
Next, let's talk Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL). Coles is an ASX dividend share that offers many of the desirable defensive characteristics that make Telstra a top income pick. It is a dominant supermarket operator, with stores within reach of the vast majority of the population. As a provider of consumer staples (life's essentials like food, drinks and household supplies), Coles is a company that is well-placed to weather any kind of bad economic weather, including inflation and recessions. That makes it a formidable dividend stock for those seeking income certainty.
Coles is currently trading with a dividend yield of 3.41%, which comes with full franking credits attached too.
Last but not least…
A final stock to consider for income is the listed investment company (LIC) MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF). Like most LICs, MFF holds an underlying portfolio of investments that it manages on behalf of its shareholders. In this case, that underlying portfolio is mostly made up of US stocks. These include many household names, such as Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, and Visa.
MFF is one of the ASX's most impressive dividend growth stocks. The company has increased its annual payout every year for almost a decade now, and at breakneck speed too. To illustrate, the company has gone from paying 6.5 cents per share in 2021 to a planned 21 cents in 2026. Those dividends all come fully franked as well. Today, MFF shares trade on a trailing dividend yield of 3.83%
