You can watch the Six Nations in the US exclusively on Peacock, but it’s a paid service. In the UK, coverage is split between BBC iPlayer and ITVX, with BBC streaming five matches and ITVX showing the remaining ten, including all of England’s games. In Ireland, every match is available for free on RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play. If you’re outside these countries, a VPN can help you access the official broadcasters.
The 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship kicks off on Thursday, February 5 and runs through Saturday, March 14, 2026. This year’s tournament features a historic change in scheduling, including the first-ever Thursday night opener and a compressed six-week format, with just one rest weekend between rounds 3 and 4.
Across five rounds and 15 matches, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales will compete for the men’s title. The championship concludes on “Super Saturday,” March 14, with three back-to-back fixtures.
The 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Championship follows from Saturday, April 11 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, featuring the same six nations competing for the women’s title.
For a full schedule, TV channels, and streaming sites in 2026, read further below.
Where can I watch Six Nations live for free?
Fans can watch the 2026 Six Nations across several official broadcasters. In the UK, all matches are available to stream for free via ITVX and BBC iPlayer, with ITV showing 10 matches (including all England games) and BBC covering five. In Ireland, games are available on RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play, while in France, coverage is provided by France Télévisions.
| Country | Six Nations 2026 streaming service | Matches covered | Free or paid |
| United Kingdom | ITVX | 10 matches (all England games) | ✅Free |
| BBC iPlayer | 5 matches | ✅Free | |
| Ireland | RTÉ Player | All matches | ✅Free |
| Virgin Media Play | All matches | ✅Free | |
| France | France Télévisions | All matches | ✅Free |
| Italy | TV8 | All Italy matches | ✅Free |
| United States | Peacock | All matches | Prices start at $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year |
In the United States, watching the Six Nations 2026 requires a subscription to Peacock, with plans starting at $10.99 per month for Premium or $16.99 per month for Premium Plus. While US viewers need a paid subscription to stream all matches, fans in countries like Ireland, France, and Italy can watch every Six Nations game for free on RTÉ Player, France Télévisions, or TV8.
If you’re outside these countries, a VPN makes it easy to access free Six Nations broadcasts. By connecting to a server in Ireland, France, or Italy, you can stream all matches as if you were in that country – letting you enjoy the full tournament without paying.
How to watch Six Nations 2026 with a VPN: a step-by-step guide
If you’re outside countries offering free Six Nations coverage, you can still watch every match using a VPN. A VPN lets you connect to a server in a country like Ireland, France, or Italy, so you can stream the games as if you were there. NordVPN is a great option for fast, reliable connections.
- Get a reliable streaming VPN. For watching Six Nations live, we recommend NordVPN. This VPN has lightning-fast servers in multiple countries, so you won’t miss a single try.
- Install the VPN on your device. NordVPN has apps for phones, laptops, computers, and smart TVs.
- Open the app, log in, and pick a server in a country that streams the Six Nations for free. For example, you can connect to Ireland to watch on RTÉ Player, France for France Télévisions, or Italy to stream all of Italy’s matches on TV8. The VPN will make it appear as if you are in that country, giving you full access to the free live streams.
- Go to the broadcaster’s website or app and start streaming.
Six Nations 2026 matches this weekend
Thursday 5 February, France v Ireland
- Kick-off: 8.10 p.m. GMT, 9.10 p.m
- Paid broadcasters: Peacock (US), Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
- Free to watch: ITV / ITVX (UK), Virgin Media One / RTÉ (Ireland), France Télévisions / France 2 (France)
Saturday 7 February, Italy v Scotland
- Kick-off: 2.10 p.m. GMT, 3.10 p.m.
- Paid services: Peacock (US), Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
- Free to watch: BBC (UK), Virgin Media (Ireland)
Saturday 7 February, England v Wales
- Kick-off: 4.40 p.m. GMT, 4.40 p.m.
- Paid services: Peacock (US), Stan Sport (Australia), SuperSport (South Africa)
- Free broadcast: ITV (UK), RTÉ (Ireland)
Want to learn more about watching sports with a VPN? Check out our comprehensive article on watching rugby online.
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