You can watch the 2026 State of the Union address almost anywhere that carries major U.S. news, plus a bunch of free livestreams online.

When it’s on

  • Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • Time: 9 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Pacific) for the actual speech, with many outlets starting special coverage earlier in the evening.

Traditional TV channels

You’ll be able to watch live on all the big broadcast and cable news networks.

  • ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX.
  • PBS (often with analysis from PBS NewsHour).
  • Cable news: CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel.
  • C‑SPAN will usually carry a clean feed from the House floor.

If you have a basic antenna for over‑the‑air TV in the U.S., you can get the major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS) for free.

Official and free livestreams

Even without cable, you can stream the State of the Union at no cost.

  • PBS NewsHour livestream (website and YouTube).
  • Major network news sites often offer free live video (CBS News, ABC News, etc.).
  • Many outlets host the speech live on YouTube; searching “State of the Union 2026 live” around start time will surface feeds from PBS, CBS, and others.

Streaming TV services

If you use a live‑TV streaming app that carries the big networks, you can watch there as part of your subscription—and some offer free trials around this time.

  • Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo.
  • These services typically include at least one major network and several cable news channels that will all be airing the speech.

Some of these platforms advertise short free‑trial windows, so you can sign up, watch the speech, and then decide if you want to keep the service.

If you’re outside the U.S.

  • Network websites and YouTube streams (PBS, CBS News, etc.) are usually the easiest way to watch internationally.
  • If a site is region‑locked, some viewers use a VPN to access their usual U.S. streaming apps while traveling.

Mini forum‑style note

“You don’t actually need cable anymore—just open YouTube around 9 Eastern and look for PBS or CBS’s official live feeds. It’s usually one click and you’re in.”

TL;DR: To watch the State of the Union address, tune in at 9 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 24, 2026, on any major U.S. network (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, C‑SPAN), or stream it free via big news sites and their YouTube channels, or via live‑TV streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream.

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