How to watch NRL 2026: Free Streams, TV Channels, Preview | Tech Radar
Overview
How to watch NRL 2026: Free Streams, TV Channels, Preview for new season
Brisbane Broncos look to defend their crown after dethroning Penrith Panthers
Details
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Watch NRL 2026 live streams as the Brisbane Broncos begin their hunt for back-to-back Premierships following their dramatic comeback win in last year's Grand Final. Below we have all the info on how to watch NRL footy from anywhere in the world with details on worldwide TV channels, broadcasters and FREE streaming online.
In his first season as coach, Michael Maguire led the Broncos to a first title in 19 years, with Kotoni Staggs, Payne Haas and Clive Churchill Medal winner Reece Walsh all starring for the Brisbane side. They'll be fighting off the likes of the Melbourne Storm (defeated at the last two Grand Finals), Penrith Panthers (who they stopped winning a fifth straight title) and the Canberra Raiders (last year's ladder toppers) to be the 2026 premiers.
Las Vegas will once again play host to the opening games of the NRL season, with the Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys followed by Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs St George Illawarra Dragons taking place in Sin City. You can find the start times of those games and all of the Round 1 fixtures below.
Here's where to watch NRL 2026 live streams online from anywhere – including options to watch absolutely FREE!
Sunday, March 1 Knights vs Cowboys – 1.15pm AEDT / 9.15pm ET (Sat.) / 2.15am GMT Bulldogs vs Dragons – 3.30pm AEDT / 11.30pm ET (Sat.) / 4.30am GMT
Thursday, March 5 Storm vs Eels – 8pm AEDT / 4am ET / 9am GMT
Friday, March 6 Warriors vs Roosters – 6pm AEDT / 2am ET / 7am GMT Broncos vs Panthers – 8pm AEDT / 4am ET / 9am GMT
Saturday, March 7 Sharks vs Titans – 5.30pm AEDT / 1.30am ET / 6.30am GMT Sea Eagles vs Raiders – 7.35pm AEDT / 3.35am ET / 8.35am GMT
Sunday, March 8 Dolphins vs Rabbitohs – 4.05pm AEDT / 12.05am ET / 5.05am GMT
Three NRL games are on free-to-air Channel 9 and 9 Now in Australia during each week of the regular season. Every game of the State of Origin series and Grand Final are also on Channel 9 and 9 Now.
To keep up to date with the games being broadcast head to 9 Now's sports schedule page.
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Get Nord VPN and stream 2026 NRL games from anywhere.
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Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, Nord VPN is our favorite.
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Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the US and want to view your usual Australian service, you'd select a server in Australia from the list.
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Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to your usual local streaming service and watch the footy.
In the US, three NRL games are shown on Fox Sport each week during the regular season, plus the entirety of the State of Origin and Finals Series.
Only bothered about the rugby? You can see every single game on the dedicated Watch NRL streaming platform, from $20 per week.
If you're traveling outside of the US, you can make use of Nord VPN to catch the action on any of the above services.
NRL 2026 coverage goes out on Sportsnet in Canada, with three matches per week, State of Origin and Finals Series
That means you can also watch online thanks to its Sportsnet+ streaming service (from
NRL 2026 action is covered by Sky Sports in the UK. Its channels will show three games per week, together with all Final Series, State of Origin and Grand Final matches.
Sky Sports packages start from £22 per month or you can get a more flexible Now Sports membership starting from £14.99 for a day pass.
Alternatively, die-hard fans might want to check out Watch NRL, which costs £16 a week, £39 a month month or £143 for the whole season and will unlock access to every single NRL game of the 2026 season.
Outside the UK? You’ll might need to download a VPN, as detailed above, to watch your usual stream from abroad.
As mentioned above, three NRL games per week are on free-to-air Channel 9 in Australia during the regular season, with live streaming available via 9 Now. The entirety of the State of Origin and finals series, including the Grand Final, will also be on Channel 9 and 9 Now.
If you're currently out of Australia but want to watch NRL live streams, you'll need to get yourself a VPN, as per the instructions above.
How to watch NRL 2026 live streams in New Zealand
Sky Sport NZ is the NRL rights holder in New Zealand, with some games going out on its free-to-access Sky Open channel.
You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at
Overseas? Nord VPN will give you access to your home streaming service.
How to watch NRL 2026 live streams in Rest of World
Every single match of the 2026 NRL Premiership season will be shown on the dedicated Watch NRL streaming platform, which is available in all territories except for Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and other selected sanctioned jurisdictions (e.g. Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea).
Subscriptions cost
Many countries also show games on TV and online through their domestic broadcasters:
NRL broadcast rights are held by ESPN Africa, which provides coverage to sub-Saharan countries including:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Democratic Republic, Congo Republic, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, St Helena, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zanzibar, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Sport 1 has the rights to show three NRL games per week in these countries
NRL coverage is available via be IN Sports in France, with three games per week.
ESPN holds the rights to the NRL in the Netherlands.
The Grand Final, State of Origin and three matches per week will be shown on Premier Sports Asia in the following countries:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
Sky Pacific has the rights to the 2026 NRL season in the following countries:
Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Pacific Islands (i.e. Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia)
Additionally, games will be shown in Papua New Guinea on the free TVWAN, in Samoa on TV3, in Tonga on Digicel, in the Cook Islands via Elijah Comm, and in the Solomons on TTV.
The 2026 NRL regular season starts on Sunday, March 1 in Australia (Saturday, February 28 in the US), with a double-header: Knights vs Cowboys and Bulldogs vs Dragons in Las Vegas. The season runs until Sunday, September 6, 2026.
The regular season is immediately followed by the Final Series, with the Grand Final set for Sunday, October 4.
The vast majority of broadcasters mentioned in this article have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser. For example, Watch NRL, 9 Now, Fox One and Sky Go all have mobile apps.
You can also stay up-to-date with the latest NRL news on the official social media channels on X (@NRL), Instagram (nrl), Facebook (NRL) Tik Tok (@nrl) and You Tube (@NRL).
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Adam was formerly the Content Director of Subscriptions and Services at Future, meaning that he oversaw many of the articles Tech Radar produces about antivirus software, VPN, TV streaming, broadband and mobile phone contracts - from buying guides and deals news, to industry interest pieces and reviews. Adam has now dusted off his keyboard to write articles for the likes of Tech Radar, T3 and Tom's Guide.
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Key Takeaways
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How to watch NRL 2026: Free Streams, TV Channels, Preview for new season
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Brisbane Broncos look to defend their crown after dethroning Penrith Panthers
-
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission
-
Watch NRL 2026 live streams as the Brisbane Broncos begin their hunt for back-to-back Premierships following their dramatic comeback win in last year's Grand Final
-
In his first season as coach, Michael Maguire led the Broncos to a first title in 19 years, with Kotoni Staggs, Payne Haas and Clive Churchill Medal winner Reece Walsh all starring for the Brisbane side
