The 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations wrapped up back in March, with France beating England 48-46 in a final-day thriller to claim the title — France's second straight Championship. If you're looking ahead to the next tournament, here's what matters: the 2027 Six Nations runs from February 5 to March 13, 2027, and in the US, Peacock is expected to remain the way to watch every match — though that hasn't been formally confirmed for 2027 yet (more on that below).
This guide covers where to legally stream the Six Nations without cable in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, what each option costs, and what to do if you're traveling outside your home country during the tournament.
Quick answer: how to watch the Six Nations without cable
- United States: Peacock streamed all 15 matches live in 2026 with no cable required, and is the expected home of the tournament again in 2027 — but NBC hasn't yet issued a formal rights announcement specific to 2027.
- United Kingdom: Free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX for every match, with S4C carrying Wales's games in Welsh. Premier Sports also shows a handful of matches (one per round, non-exclusively) as an additional option — but no match requires a Premier Sports subscription, since those same games are also shown free on the BBC.
- Ireland: Free on RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play.
- Canada: Premier Sports' Canadian streaming service holds exclusive rights starting with the 2026 tournament.
- Australia: Stan Sport (an add-on to a base Stan subscription).
- New Zealand: Sky Sport Now, under Sky's long-term rugby broadcast deal.
When is the next Six Nations?
The 2027 Guinness Men's Six Nations is scheduled to run from Friday, February 5 through Saturday, March 13, 2027, opening with Ireland hosting England and closing with Ireland facing France. The tournament features England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales in a round-robin format across five rounds.
How to watch the Six Nations in the US
NBC has held US media rights to the Six Nations continuously since 2018, and Peacock has streamed every match of the tournament each year since, including the full 2026 Championship. Based on that track record, Peacock is the expected home of the 2027 tournament in the US, though NBC has not yet issued a formal rights announcement specific to 2027 as of this writing. [VERIFY BEFORE PUBLISHING: confirm NBC/Peacock rights renewal for the 2027 Six Nations closer to kickoff.]
Officially, Peacock has carried every Six Nations match live and on demand, with select matches also simulcast on NBC. As of the current pricing structure (effective August 18, 2026):
- Peacock Select: $8.99/month or $89.99/year — limited live sports access
- Peacock Premium: $12.99/month or $129.99/year — includes ads, full live sports
- Peacock Premium Plus: $19.99/month or $199.99/year — mostly ad-free
How to watch the Six Nations in the UK
The Six Nations has protected free-to-air status in the UK. Since 2026, BBC and ITV have shared live coverage under a four-year deal running through the 2029 Championship, with ITV showing 10 matches per year (including all of England's games) and BBC covering 5 matches per year involving Scotland and Wales.
- ITV1 / ITVX: Free with a UK TV license; live streaming via the ITVX app
- BBC One / BBC iPlayer: Free with a UK TV license
- S4C / S4C Clic: Wales's matches in Welsh-language commentary, also free
- Premier Sports: Also carries five matches per tournament (one per round, involving Scotland and Wales) under a separate, non-exclusive deal. These same matches remain free on the BBC — Premier Sports is an optional extra angle for subscribers, not a requirement to watch any game.
How to watch the Six Nations in Ireland
RTÉ and Virgin Media Television announced in September 2025 a new four-year agreement keeping the Men's, Women's, and U20 Six Nations free-to-air in Ireland through 2029. Matches stream free via RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play, with RTÉ also holding radio rights.
How to watch the Six Nations in Canada
Premier Sports launched a dedicated rugby streaming service in Canada in January 2026 after acquiring exclusive Canadian rights to the Men's Six Nations, the U20 Six Nations, and the new Nations Championship. The service streams every match live and on demand, alongside Super Rugby Pacific and other international rugby. If you've seen older listings pointing to a different Canadian broadcaster, note that this arrangement is specific to 2026 onward — check Premier Sports' official Canadian site for the current subscription price before signing up.
How to watch the Six Nations in Australia
Stan Sport holds Australian rights to every Six Nations match. It's sold as an add-on to a base Stan subscription rather than a standalone product. Officially, pricing has been structured as a base Stan plan plus a separate Sport add-on fee — check Stan's official pricing page for the current combined monthly cost, since both components have changed price more than once over the past two years.
How to watch the Six Nations in New Zealand
Sky New Zealand signed an eight-year rugby broadcast agreement in 2025 covering the Six Nations, the Gallagher Premiership, and other major rugby properties, and NZ Rugby separately confirmed Sky as its broadcast partner for all domestic rugby through 2030. In practice, that means Sky Sport and the Sky Sport Now streaming app remain the way to watch the Six Nations in New Zealand for the foreseeable future.
Watching from outside your home country
Streaming rights are sold territory by territory, which is why Peacock only works inside the US, BBC iPlayer is generally restricted to UK viewers, and so on. A subscriber who's traveling can sometimes run into their own service blocking access simply because of location — not because they've lost their subscription.
A VPN may help a subscriber reconnect to a service they already legitimately pay for while traveling, but it doesn't create streaming rights that don't exist, and using one to access a service you don't subscribe to at home would go against that service's terms. If you're an existing Peacock, BBC iPlayer, or Stan Sport subscriber trying to stream your usual coverage while abroad, NordVPN is a widely used option with servers in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Six Nations streaming options at a glance
| Country | Free Option | Paid Option | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | None | Peacock | From $8.99/mo |
| United Kingdom | BBC iPlayer, ITVX, S4C Clic (all matches) | Premier Sports (same 5 matches, optional extra) | Free-to-air with TV license |
| Ireland | RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play | — | Free |
| Canada | None | Premier Sports (Canada) | Check official site |
| Australia | None | Stan Sport add-on | Check official site |
| New Zealand | None | Sky Sport Now | Check official site |
Important things to know
- The 2026 Championship is over — France won its second straight title. Any "how to watch" content referencing 2026 kickoff times or fixtures is now historical.
- Peacock does not currently run its own free trial; the Walmart+ route can include Peacock at reduced or no upfront cost, but its exact current terms should be checked directly with Walmart before you sign up.
- Rights holders can change year to year — this was true for Canada heading into 2026 — so it's worth reconfirming your country's broadcaster close to kickoff.
- In the UK, Premier Sports' involvement doesn't put any match behind a paywall exclusively — the same five matches it shows are also free on the BBC.
FAQs
Did the 2026 Six Nations already happen?
Yes. The 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations ran from February 5 to March 14, 2026, and France won the title, edging England 48-46 in the final round for its second straight Championship.
Can I watch the Six Nations without cable in the US?
Yes. Peacock has streamed every match of the tournament since 2018 and requires no cable or satellite subscription — just an internet connection and a Peacock plan. Its 2027 rights haven't been formally confirmed yet, but Peacock is expected to continue as the US home of the tournament.
Is the Six Nations free to watch anywhere?
Yes, in the UK (BBC/ITV/S4C) and Ireland (RTÉ/Virgin Media), the tournament is entirely free-to-air thanks to protected broadcasting status. In the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it requires a paid subscription.
Does Peacock offer a free trial for the Six Nations?
Not directly. Peacock's free-access options were phased out starting in 2023. Walmart+ members can currently select Peacock Premium as an included perk, and Walmart+ offers its own promotional trial to new subscribers — check Walmart's site for the current terms, since these have varied.
Do I need a VPN to watch the Six Nations?
Only if you're trying to access your home country's coverage while traveling abroad. A VPN doesn't grant streaming rights you don't already have through a subscription.
Which channel shows the Six Nations in Canada?
Premier Sports operates the official Canadian rugby streaming service and holds exclusive Six Nations rights starting with the 2026 tournament.
Bottom line
For most readers, this comes down to where you live. In the US, Peacock is the only legal option, and a single month's subscription around the tournament dates covers it. In the UK and Ireland, you don't need to pay anything beyond a TV license — that holds true even for the matches Premier Sports also carries. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand each have one confirmed paid rightsholder. If you're traveling during the tournament, a VPN can help you reach a service you already subscribe to — it's not a way around paying for one in the first place.
