You can watch the 2026 Six Nations on a mix of traditional TV channels and official streaming services, with most games still free-to-air in the core rugby countries.

Main broadcasters by country

  • UK: All matches are split between BBC and ITV on free-to-air TV, with live streams on BBC iPlayer and ITVX (both free accounts, no subscription fee).
  • Ireland: RTÉ and Virgin Media share rights, with online streams via RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play (free once you register).
  • Wales (Welsh language): S4C shows Welsh-language coverage, also available via its online player.
  • France: All 15 matches are available free on France TĂ©lĂ©visions and TF1, with streaming through their online platforms (e.g., FranceTV, TF1+).
  • Italy: Sky Sport / NOW carry all matches; some Italy games are free-to-air on TV8.
  • USA: Peacock has the rights to show the Six Nations live and on demand.
  • Australia: Stan Sport is the official broadcaster.
  • New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ shows the tournament.
  • South Africa & much of sub‑Saharan Africa: SuperSport carries the games.

Handy tip for free streams

In countries where the tournament is free-to-air (UK, Ireland, France, parts of Europe), you can usually watch all games live via the public broadcasters’ streaming apps: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play, and FranceTV. These require free registration but no extra sports subscription.

Quick reference table

[7][1] [5][3] [3] [1][3] [3] [1][3] [3][1] [1][3] [3][1]
Region/Country Where to watch 6 Nations rugby
UK BBC & ITV on TV; BBC iPlayer and ITVX for free streaming.
Ireland RTÉ & Virgin Media; RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play (free with account).
Wales (Welsh) S4C and its online player.
France France Télévisions & TF1; free streams via FranceTV / TF1+.
Italy Sky Sport / NOW (all games); TV8 shows Italy games free-to-air.
USA Peacock (live and on demand).
Australia Stan Sport.
New Zealand Sky Sport NZ.
South Africa SuperSport.

Extra notes and “latest news” angle

  • The 2026 Six Nations runs from early February to mid‑March, with weekend rounds much like previous years.
  • Free-to-air coverage in the UK and several European markets remains a big talking point, as many fans want to keep the tournament off full pay‑TV behind a paywall.

Fans on rugby forums often swap tips about using different broadcasters’ apps, comparing which has fewer ads or better commentary, especially when choosing between BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and various European public channels.

TL;DR: Search for your local broadcaster from the list above, then use its main sports channel or official app (iPlayer, ITVX, RTÉ Player, FranceTV, Peacock, Stan Sport, etc.) to watch the Six Nations live.

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