You can watch the 2026 Six Nations on free-to-air TV in the main rugby nations, plus via official paid streams internationally.

Main broadcasters by country

Here’s a quick guide to where to watch Six Nations legally, using official rights-holders and their streaming platforms.

Country / Region Where to watch Six Nations 2026
UK (England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland) Live on BBC and ITV free-to-air; matches also on BBC iPlayer and ITVX live and on-demand (mix of channels depending on the fixture).[4][8]
Ireland Live coverage split between RTÉ and Virgin Media Television, with streaming on RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Player for in- territory viewers.[9][8]
France Broadcast on France TĂ©lĂ©visions (typically France 2) with free online streams on France TV’s digital platforms inside France.[10][8]
Italy Matches available via free-to-air Italian TV and associated streaming services; details change slightly by year but remain on national broadcasters.[8][10]
USA Rights have recently sat with dedicated rugby/European-sport streamers (e.g., platforms similar to FloRugby or Peacock in prior years); check your local listings or the Six Nations site for the exact 2026 provider.[9][8]
Canada Coverage usually via specialty sports networks or streaming platforms that carry European rugby; exact provider can vary season to season.[8][9]
Australia & New Zealand Typically shown on pay TV or subscription streaming (such as Stan Sport in Australia or Sky Sport/streaming apps in NZ for recent tournaments); check 2026 schedules locally.[9][8]
Rest of world Many regions have either a local sports channel partnership or an official Six Nations streaming partner; the tournament’s site and major rugby outlets maintain updated “how to watch” lists.[10][8][9]

six nations where to watch – the key is to use your country’s official broadcaster or its streaming app, then only consider reputable, legal global services if you are travelling.

Streaming from anywhere (legally)

If you are outside your home country or travelling:

  • Use your home broadcaster’s official app (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, RTÉ Player, etc.) when you are physically in that country; these typically geo-block outside their region.
  • Some fans use VPNs to access their usual subscriptions while abroad, but you must follow the platform’s terms of service and local law; reputable tech and rugby sites stress legal, non‑piracy use only.
  • Avoid shady or pirated streams; rugby outlets explicitly warn that consuming pirated paid content is not endorsed and can be risky for security and legality.

An example: a UK fan on holiday in Spain might connect to a UK streaming account they already pay for and watch matches through that official service, instead of hunting for unlicensed links.

Staying up to date (latest news & TV info)

Because TV deals can shift slightly each year, it’s smart to double‑check just before or during the tournament:

  • The official Six Nations pages and big rugby outlets (ESPN, Rugby World, Six Nations Guide) publish “how to watch” or “TV info” hubs with updated broadcasters and streaming links.
  • These same outlets also carry latest news, squads, injuries, and schedule updates, so you can track all the storylines around the games.

For 2026 specifically, rugby sites are already listing fixtures, kick‑off times, and regional TV information by round, and will keep adjusting those guides as coverage updates.

TL;DR: Use BBC/ITV in the UK, RTÉ/Virgin in Ireland, France TV in France, local national sports channels elsewhere in Europe, and your region’s official rugby broadcaster or its app worldwide; if you travel, stick to legal use of your existing subscriptions and avoid pirate streams.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.