When is the Nations Championship 2026 rugby? Date, schedule and how to watch

Rugby union fans rejoice! The inaugural season of the Nations Championship roars into life this summer.

The new tournament is a shake-up to the international calendar and brings together the top 12 teams in the world for six rounds of fixtures, which will set up a thrilling finals weekend.

The nations are split into two geographic conferences, with the Northern Hemisphere sides hosting the first three rounds in July and the Southern Hemisphere teams returning the favour in November.

The winner of each conference will compete for the first Nations Championship title at the end of November on finals weekend, when all 12 teams will be in action at Twickenham.

It promises to be a thrilling ride, which will see the best players and teams in the world go head-to-head.

Radio Times brings you the details about the Nations Championship 2026 rugby, including date and kick-off time.

When is the Nations Championship 2026?

The inaugural season of the Nations Championship starts with the first round of matches on Saturday 4 July 2026 and will conclude with the final at Twickenham on Sunday 29 November 2026.

It will be split into three parts. The Southern Hemisphere Series runs from Saturday 4 July until Saturday 18 July, the Northern Hemisphere Series runs from Friday 6 November to Saturday 21 November, and the finals run from Friday 27 November to Sunday 29 November.

Where is the Nations Championship 2026?

The Southern Hemisphere teams will play three home games against Northern Hemisphere teams in July,

Each team will play three home games during the series in their hemisphere and three away games during the series in the other hemisphere.

The six finals will all be played at Twickenham, in London, across Friday 27, Saturday 28, and Sunday 29 November.

Watch the Nations Championship 2026 on TV and live stream

UK fans can watch the Nations Championship 2026 rugby exclusively on ITV.

All 42 matches from this year’s tournament will be available free-to-air on ITV channels and streamed on ITVX.

As part of a deal with Six Nations Rugby, the broadcaster will have exclusive rights for the first two seasons of the Nations Championship, in 2026 and 2028.

Nations Championship 2026 TV schedule

Southern Hemisphere Series

Saturday 4 July

• New Zealand v France (TBC, Christchurch) ITV / ITVX
• Japan v Italy (TBC, Tokyo) ITV / ITVX
• Australia v Ireland (TBC, Sydney) ITV / ITVX
• Fiji v Wales (TBC, Cardiff) ITV / ITVX
• South Africa v England (TBC, Johannesburg) ITV / ITVX
• Argentina v Scotland (TBC, Cordoba) ITV / ITVX

Saturday 11 July

• New Zealand v Italy (TBC, Wellington) ITV / ITVX
• Australia v France (TBC, Brisbane) ITV / ITVX
• Japan v Ireland (TBC, Newcastle, Australia) ITV / ITVX
• Fiji v England (TBC, Liverpool) ITV / ITVX
• South Africa v Scotland (TBC, Pretoria) ITV / ITVX
• Argentina v Wales (TBC, San Juan) ITV / ITVX

Saturday 18 July

• New Zealand v Ireland (TBC, Auckland) ITV / ITVX
• Japan v France (TBC, Tokyo) ITV / ITVX
• Australia v Italy (TBC, Perth) ITV / ITVX
• Fiji v Scotland (TBC, Edinburgh) ITV / ITVX
• South Africa v Wales (TBC, Durban) ITV / ITVX
• Argentina v England (TBC, Santiago del Estero) ITV / ITVX

Northern Hemisphere Series

Friday 6 November

• Ireland v Argentina (TBC, Dublin) ITV / ITVX

Saturday 7 November

• Italy v South Africa (TBC, Turin) ITV / ITVX
• Scotland v New Zealand (TBC, Edinburgh) ITV / ITVX
• Wales v Japan (TBC, Cardiff) ITV / ITVX
• France v Fiji (TBC, Lyon) ITV / ITVX

Sunday 8 November

• England v Australia (TBC, London) ITV / ITVX

Friday 13 November

• France v South Africa (TBC, Paris) ITV / ITVX

Saturday 14 November

• Italy v Argentina (TBC, Genoa) ITV / ITVX
• Wales v New Zealand (TBC, Cardiff) ITV / ITVX
• England v Japan (TBC, London) ITV / ITVX
• Ireland v Fiji (TBC, Dublin) ITV / ITVX

Sunday 15 November

• Scotland v Australia (TBC, Edinburgh) ITV / ITVX

Saturday 21 November

• England v New Zealand (TBC, London) ITV / ITVX
• Scotland v Japan (TBC, Edinburgh) ITV / ITVX
• Ireland v South Africa (TBC, Dublin) ITV / ITVX
• Italy v Fiji (TBC, Udine) ITV / ITVX
• Wales v Australia (TBC, Cardiff) ITV / ITVX
• France v Argentina (TBC, Paris) ITV / ITVX

Finals

Friday 27 November

• 11th Place Final: Northern 6 v Southern 6 (4:40pm, Twickenham) ITV / ITVX
• 5th Place Final: Northern 3 v Southern 3 (8:10pm, Twickenham) ITV / ITVX

Saturday 28 November

• 9th Place Final: Northern 5 v Southern 5 (1:10pm, Twickenham) ITV / ITVX
• 3rd Place Final: Northern 2 v Southern 2 (4:40pm, Twickenham) ITV / ITVX

Sunday 29 November

• 7th Place Final: Northern 4 v Southern 4 (1:10pm, Twickenham) ITV / ITVX
• Nations Championship Final: Northern 1 v Southern 1 (4:40pm, Twickenham) ITV / ITVX

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