How to watch Tour Championship: snooker FREE live stream 2026 | Tech Radar

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Tour Championship 2026 Free Streams: How To Watch Snooker, TV Channels, Preview, Schedule

John Higgins defends title in last stop before World Championship

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Tour Championship 2026: Monday, March 30 to Sunday, April 5

Daily start times: 1pm BST / 8am ET & 7pm BST / 2pm ET

Tour Championship 2026 live streams feature 12 of snooker's finest players – including Judd Trump, Zhao Xintong and Mark Selby – heading to Manchester, England, for a week of high-intensity play culminating with a final worth £150,000 to the winner. It's the last stop before the World Snooker Championship that starts in just a few weeks' time, and all matches consist of an extended best-of-19 frames.

This time last year, John Higgins walked away with the first-prize cheque and a staggering 33rd career ranking title. Despite turning 50 last May, the Wizard of Wishaw's fine form hasn't wavered and he only narrowly lost out in the final of last month's Player's Championship.

The victor that day was world champion Zhao Xintong, and the 28-year-old will now be eager to become the first Chinese winner in the Tour Championship's seven-year history. Although Ronnie O'Sullivan will be missing for this one, competition is set to be hot, with Trump, Selby, Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy all in strong form and expected to go far.

Higgins vs Mark Williams – the past two Tour Championship winners – is the pick of the first-round matches. The victor takes on Selby in the last eight.

Here's how to watch free Tour Championship snooker 2026 live streams wherever you are. We've also listed this year's tournament schedule further down the page.

Can I watch Tour Championship snooker in 2026 for free?

The UK's free-to-air Channel 5 and sister channel 5 Action will show coverage from every session of the 2026 Tour Championship for free.

That means the snooker will also be available online live and on demand through the Channel 5 website and via its 5 app.

If you're traveling away from home, you can use a VPN to watch the live action free from abroad on your usual streaming service. More details below...

Use a VPN to watch Tour Championship snooker 2026 from anywhere

A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend Nord VPN – it does everything and comes with a 73% discount and Amazon Gift Card thrown in on some plans (for a limited time).

Not having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.

Tech Radar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and Nord VPN is our #1 choice.

✅ 73% Off Today ✅ Free Amazon Gift Card up to $50 (ends soon!) ✅ Unlocks Channel 5

Get Nord VPN now and watch Tour Championship snooker live streams from anywhere.

Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, Nord VPN is our favorite.
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 UK service, you'd select a United Kingdom-based server from the list.
Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to your usual local streaming service and watch the snooker.

How to watch Tour Championship 2026 snooker in the UK for FREE

As explained above, UK snooker fans can watch the 2026 Tour Championship for FREE, with action being shown on Channel 5 and 5 Action.

That means you can live stream Tour Championship snooker on the Channel 5 website and app. Play begins at 1pm and 7pm BST each day.

Channel 5 is free to use (with a valid TV license if watching live) and works across a wide range of devices including smart TVs, laptops, Play Stations, mobile phones, tablets and streaming sticks.

Away from the UK right now? Use Nord VPN to watch Channel 5 from abroad

How to watch Tour Championship 2026 snooker live streams around the world

Tour Championship snooker 2026 will be available globally – including in the US, Canada and Australia – on specialist snooker streaming platform WST Play.

Priced in GBP, it costs £7 per month or £70 for a whole year. That’s roughly

9.50 and

95 respectively in USD.

If you’re traveling but wanting to watch your domestic Tour Championship snooker live stream, you’ll need to download a VPN and use that to watch as if you were back at home.

Monday, March 30 – afternoon (Round 1) Judd Trump vs Mark Allen Barry Hawkins vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Monday, March 30 – evening (Round 1) Judd Trump vs Mark Allen (to finish) Wu Yize vs Chris Wakelin

Tuesday, March 31 – afternoon (Round 1) John Higgins vs Mark Williams Barry Hawkins vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (to finish)

Tuesday, March 31 – evening (Round 1) John Higgins vs Mark Williams (to finish) Wu Yize vs Chris Wakelin (to finish)

Wednesday, April 1 – afternoon (Quarterfinal) Shaun Murphy vs Trump or Allen Neil Robertson vs Hawkins or Un-Nooh

Wednesday, April 1 – evening (Quarterfinal) Shaun Murphy vs Trump or Allen (to finish) Zhao Xintong vs Wu or Wakelin

Thursday, April 2 – afternoon (Quarterfinal) Mark Selby vs Williams or Higgins Neil Robertson vs Hawkins or Un-Nooh (to finish)

Thursday, April 2 – evening (Quarterfinal) Mark Selby vs Williams or Higgins (to finish) Zhao Xintong vs Wu or Wakelin (to finish)

The 2026 Tour Championship starts on Monday, March 30 at 1pm BST / 8am ET / 5am PT.

Can I watch Tour Championship 2026 snooker on my mobile?

Yes, the broadcasters mentioned in this article have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser – so that's Channel 5 in the UK and WST Play globally.

You can also stay up to date with all the action through the World Snooker Tour (WST) official social media channels: @worldsnookertour on Instagram, @We Are WST on X, the WST Facebook page and the WST Tik Tok channel.

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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Tour Championship 2026 Free Streams: How To Watch Snooker, TV Channels, Preview, Schedule