when does the six nations start 2026

The Six Nations 2026 kicks off on Thursday, February 5, 2026 , with France hosting Ireland at the Stade de France in Paris at 8:10 PM GMT. This marks a break from tradition, as the tournament opens on a Thursday to sidestep a clash with the Winter Olympics, setting the stage for five weeks of high-stakes rugby action across England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. The championship wraps up on Saturday, March 14, promising edge-of- your-seat matches right through to the finale.

Opening Fixtures

The first round gets underway with a blockbuster:

• Thursday, Feb 5 : France vs Ireland (Stade de France, Paris, 8:10 PM GMT)
• Saturday, Feb 7 : Italy vs Scotland (Stadio Olimpico, Rome, 2:10 PM GMT); England vs Wales (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, 4:40 PM GMT)

These early clashes often shape the standings, with defending champions France under pressure to start strong against a resurgent Ireland.

Full Schedule Highlights

The tournament unfolds over packed weekends, blending fierce rivalries and neutral-site twists:

• Round 2 (Feb 14-15) : Ireland vs Italy, Scotland vs England, Wales vs France
• Round 3 (Feb 21-22) : England vs Ireland, Wales vs Scotland, France vs Italy
• Round 4 (Mar 6-7) : Ireland vs Wales, Scotland vs France, Italy vs England
• Super Saturday Finale (Mar 14) : Ireland vs Scotland, Wales vs Italy, France vs England (Stade de France, 8:10 PM GMT)

All times are GMT; venues like Twickenham and Murrayfield will host massive crowds.

Why the Thursday Start?

Tournament organizers shifted the opener to avoid overlapping with the 2026 Winter Olympics, a first for the Six Nations that has sparked buzz in rugby circles. Fans on forums like Reddit are already hunting tickets and debating early predictions, with England-Wales at Twickenham eyed as a potential thriller.

Women's Six Nations Context

For context, the Women's Six Nations follows in April-May 2026, starting April 11 with England vs Ireland among others—extending the rugby fever into spring.

TL;DR : Six Nations 2026 starts Feb 5 in Paris; full men's slate runs to Mar 14. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.