The fixtures for the Six Nations Championship in 2026 have been set, confirming the dates and match-ups for one of the most established competitions in international sport. The tournament will run from 5 February to 14 March 2026, bringing together England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales across five weekends of Test rugby, culminating once again with the traditional finale of Super Saturday.
The Championship remains a cornerstone of the northern hemisphere calendar, combining sporting rivalry with significant commercial and broadcast interest. For UK audiences, the fixture release provides clarity well in advance, allowing supporters, broadcasters and host cities to prepare for a competition that consistently draws millions of viewers and sell-out crowds.
Opening night sets the tone
The 2026 tournament opens with a notable departure from convention. Instead of a Saturday curtain-raiser, the Championship begins on Thursday 5 February, when France host Ireland in Paris. The decision to stage a prime-time opening match reflects the competition’s growing television footprint and its ability to command audiences beyond the traditional weekend slot.
France enter the tournament as defending champions, having set the pace in the previous season, while Ireland continue to be regarded as one of Europe’s most consistent sides. An early meeting between the two offers immediate significance, setting the competitive tone for the weeks that follow.
The opening round continues on Saturday 7 February. Italy face Scotland in Rome, a fixture that has gained greater attention in recent seasons as Italy have shown signs of progress. Later the same day, England host Wales at Twickenham, renewing a rivalry that remains central to the Championship’s identity and cultural reach within the UK.
How the 2026 Championship is structured
As in previous years, the Six Nations will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing the other five once. The balance of home and away fixtures rotates annually, ensuring competitive fairness across cycles.
The tournament spans five rounds, separated by rest weekends to manage player welfare and squad rotation. This structure allows national coaches to balance performance with injury management, particularly as many players arrive having completed demanding club campaigns.
Key fixtures across the five rounds
The second round, scheduled for 14 and 15 February, features Ireland hosting Italy in Dublin, while Scotland welcome England to Murrayfield, a fixture that has produced several pivotal results in recent years. The weekend concludes with Wales hosting France in Cardiff, a match that often proves influential in shaping the title race.
Round three, on 21 and 22 February, includes one of the most closely watched fixtures of the Championship: England versus Ireland at Twickenham. Elsewhere, Wales face Scotland, and France host Italy, maintaining the tournament’s blend of traditional rivalries and developing contests.
After a scheduled fallow weekend, round four takes place on 6 and 7 March. Ireland play Wales in Dublin, Scotland host France, and England travel to Rome to face Italy, a fixture that has historically tested England’s discipline and adaptability.
The tournament concludes on Saturday 14 March, when all six teams are in action. Super Saturday will see Ireland play Scotland, Wales host Italy, and France face England in Paris, with the final standings often unresolved until the last match of the day.
Stadiums and the significance of home advantage
The 2026 fixtures will once again showcase some of European rugby’s most recognisable venues. In the UK, Twickenham, Murrayfield and the Principality Stadium will host capacity crowds, while Ireland’s Aviva Stadium remains central to Dublin’s sporting calendar.
France’s home matches will be staged at major national venues, reinforcing the scale of interest in the Championship, while Rome’s Stadio Olimpico continues to serve as Italy’s base. Home advantage has repeatedly influenced Six Nations outcomes, with crowd intensity and familiarity playing a measurable role, particularly in closely contested fixtures.
Broadcast reach and UK audiences
For UK viewers, the Six Nations remains one of the few major sporting events guaranteed to be shown live on free-to-air television. Coverage in 2026 will again be shared between the BBC and ITV, ensuring comprehensive access across the tournament, alongside digital streaming via their respective platforms.
The Championship’s broadcast footprint extends far beyond Europe, underlining its commercial value. International coverage in Ireland, France and southern hemisphere markets reinforces the Six Nations’ position as a globally recognised annual event, despite being contested by just six teams.
Competitive context ahead of 2026
The 2026 Championship arrives during an important phase of the international cycle. With teams refining squads and systems following the previous World Cup, performances in the Six Nations carry weight beyond the immediate table.
France will aim to assert themselves as the dominant force in Europe, while England and Ireland are expected to challenge strongly as they continue rebuilding and refining under evolving coaching structures. Scotland will look to translate periods of strong form into consistent results, Wales face pressure to re-establish competitiveness, and Italy will seek to turn incremental progress into tangible wins.
Power rankings published in the build-up to the tournament underline how narrow the margins have become, with several sides entering the Championship capable of influencing the title race depending on early momentum.
Why the fixtures matter
Beyond sporting outcomes, the Six Nations plays a wider role in the rugby economy. Matchday revenues, tourism, broadcast income and grassroots engagement are all closely tied to the Championship’s success. In the UK, fixtures involving England, Wales and Scotland remain among the most watched annual sporting events, often rivalled only by major football tournaments.
The release of the 2026 fixtures therefore represents more than a schedule announcement. It marks the starting point for months of preparation across unions, clubs and host cities, and sets expectations for a competition that continues to balance tradition with modern commercial demands.
