How to Watch the Premier League 2026⁄27 Season
The Premier League 2026⁄27 season runs from 22 August 2026 to 30 May 2027, with the full schedule released on 19 June 2026. Whether you’re in the UK, the US, or anywhere else in the world, this guide covers every legitimate way to watch live matches, highlights, and on-demand replays.
Where to Watch in the United Kingdom
The UK Premier League broadcast rights are split across three providers, a structure that has been in place for several seasons.
Sky Sports holds the largest share of live rights. Most Saturday lunchtime, Saturday afternoon, Sunday, and Monday night fixtures appear on Sky Sports Premier League or Sky Sports Main Event. Sky is available via satellite (Sky Q / Sky Glass), cable, and as a standalone streaming service through NOW (formerly NOW TV). A NOW Sports membership gives access without a long-term Sky contract — check Sky or NOW for the current monthly price, as promotional rates change frequently.
TNT Sports (part of the Discovery/Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio, distributed via BT, EE, and Virgin Media) broadcasts a significant package of live matches. If you already pay for a broadband package with BT or EE, a bundled sports add-on may be available. TNT Sports is also watchable through the discovery+ app on connected devices.
BBC Sport does not show live Premier League football. However, Match of the Day — the long-running Saturday highlights programme — airs on BBC One and is free on BBC iPlayer. Midweek and Sunday highlights also appear on BBC platforms. This is the main free-to-air route for UK viewers.
Free-to-air note: No live Premier League matches are shown free-to-air in the UK under current rights arrangements.
Where to Watch in the United States
US rights are held by NBCUniversal, making Peacock the primary streaming destination. Live matches air across Peacock, NBC broadcast network, and the USA Network, depending on kick-off time and match priority.
- Peacock streams the majority of live matches and is the single most convenient option for US cord-cutters. A Peacock Premium subscription covers Premier League access; check Peacock’s current pricing at peacocktv.com.
- NBC airs select marquee fixtures on its free over-the-air broadcast channel, making those games available without any subscription to viewers with an antenna or basic cable.
- USA Network carries additional live games and is available through most cable and live-TV streaming providers (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream).
All NBC Sports commentary and Premier League studio coverage is produced under the NBC Sports umbrella. Peacock also offers on-demand replays of most matches, useful for time-shifted viewing across US time zones.
Where to Watch in Other Major Regions
Canada: Fubo Canada has held Premier League rights in recent seasons. Confirm current rights with Fubo Canada ahead of the season.
Australia: Optus Sport is the primary rights holder for live Premier League coverage in Australia. The service is available as a standalone app subscription or via some Optus mobile/broadband plans.
Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports and TNT Sports coverage is accessible in Ireland under broadly similar terms to the UK.
India & Subcontinent: Star Sports and the Disney+ Hotstar platform have broadcast rights across the Indian subcontinent. Some matches air on free-to-air Star Sports channels.
Middle East & North Africa: beIN Sports holds rights across the MENA region, available via satellite and the beIN Sports Connect app.
Rest of world: Rights vary by territory. The official Premier League website (premierleague.com) maintains a ‘Where to Watch’ directory that lists current broadcast partners by country.
Free and Legal Low-Cost Options
- BBC iPlayer (UK): Match of the Day highlights are free to any UK licence fee payer. No subscription required beyond a TV licence.
- NBC broadcast (US): Select matches on NBC’s free over-the-air channel cost nothing with an antenna.
- Premier League official app: Short highlight clips are published free shortly after matches conclude, globally.
- YouTube: The Premier League’s official YouTube channel publishes extended highlights (typically 10–15 minutes) for every match, usually within hours of full-time, free worldwide.
- Free trials: Peacock, NOW Sports, and some regional services offer limited free trials for new subscribers. Terms and availability change; confirm before sign-up.
Typical Pricing Tiers
Prices shift with promotions and annual rights renewals, so treat these as guidance only — always verify on the provider’s own site before purchasing.
| Region | Service | Approximate Tier |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Sky Sports (via Sky TV) | Typically part of a mid-to-premium TV package |
| UK | NOW Sports Membership | Monthly pass, no contract; check NOW for current rate |
| UK | TNT Sports (via BT/EE) | Typically bundled with broadband or as an add-on |
| US | Peacock Premium | Monthly or annual subscription; check peacocktv.com |
| Australia | Optus Sport | Monthly subscription; bundled options available |
| Global | beIN Sports Connect | Monthly subscription; varies by country |
Supported Devices and Apps
All major Premier League streaming services support a wide range of devices:
- Smart TVs: Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, Android TV, and Fire TV editions of Peacock, NOW, discovery+, and Optus Sport are available on most current smart TV platforms.
- Streaming sticks and boxes: Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV (4th gen and later), Chromecast with Google TV.
- Mobile: iOS and Android apps for all major services. Mobile data or Wi-Fi streaming both supported.
- Web browser: All services offer browser-based streaming at their respective websites.
- Games consoles: Peacock and NOW are available on PlayStation and Xbox platforms; check individual app stores for current availability.
Most services allow 2–3 simultaneous streams on a standard subscription; higher-tier plans may allow more. Download-for-offline options are limited for live sports but some services allow replay downloads — check app settings.
Blackout Rules and Geo-Restrictions
UK blackout window: Under UK law, live football cannot be broadcast between 2:45 pm and 5:15 pm on Saturdays. This ‘blackout’ applies to all UK services regardless of platform. It does not apply outside the UK.
Geo-blocking: Every broadcast service is licensed for a specific territory. Using a VPN to access a service from outside its licensed region violates most providers’ terms of service and may infringe on Premier League rights agreements. This guide covers only legal, in-territory access.
Travelling abroad: Some services (notably Peacock and NOW) offer limited or no content abroad due to rights restrictions. Check your provider’s roaming or travel policy before a trip.
FAQ
- What channel is the Premier League on in the UK?
- In the UK, live Premier League matches are split between Sky Sports and TNT Sports (available via BT, EE, and Virgin Media). Neither the BBC nor ITV show live Premier League football. BBC One airs Match of the Day highlights, which are also free on BBC iPlayer.
- Is the Premier League free to watch?
- There is no free live Premier League coverage in the UK. However, BBC iPlayer offers free Match of the Day highlights in the UK, and the Premier League's official YouTube channel publishes extended highlights free globally. In the US, select matches air on the NBC broadcast channel, which is free over-the-air with an antenna.
- How can I stream Premier League without a cable subscription?
- In the UK, NOW Sports (a streaming-only pass from Sky) lets you watch Sky Sports without a satellite or cable contract. In the US, Peacock Premium covers most Premier League matches as a standalone streaming subscription. Both options require an internet connection and no cable TV contract.
- How do I watch the Premier League in the US?
- US rights are held by NBCUniversal. Peacock is the main streaming platform for live matches. Additional games air on the USA Network and select fixtures on NBC's free broadcast channel. You can access USA Network through cable or live-TV streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV.
- Can I watch Premier League highlights for free?
- Yes. The Premier League's official YouTube channel publishes extended highlights for every match, typically within a few hours of full-time, free of charge worldwide. UK viewers also get full Match of the Day programmes free on BBC iPlayer.
Where to watch by country