With the Autumn Internationals well underway, fans are already turning their attention to what promises to be a landmark season of rugby—the 2026 Six Nations Championship.
Next year’s edition will not only open with a historic fixture but also feature a slight format change designed to keep the action flowing and fans glued from start to finish.
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The tournament begins with a first-of-its-kind Thursday night clash, as defending champions France host Ireland under the lights in Paris on 5 February.
It’s the first-ever Thursday night fixture in the competition’s illustrious history and a fitting stage for two modern powerhouses who have shared the last four titles between them.
Kick-off is set for 20:10 GMT, moved forward a day to avoid overlapping with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan.
The scheduling tweak is also a strategic move to capture a massive primetime audience—building on the record-breaking 2025 finale, when 9.5 million viewers (a 46% market share) watched France defeat Scotland to claim the crown.
Building on Momentum
After a 6.3% rise in viewership across domestic markets this year, organisers are doubling down on fan engagement for 2026. The refreshed format will bring more intensity and fewer pauses, ensuring storylines stay hot and momentum never dips.
The change sees the traditional two rest weekends cut to just one, packing the action into a tighter, more explosive schedule—three rounds, a short breather, then a sprint to the finish.
Everything will culminate on ‘Super Saturday’ (14 March), with a blockbuster France v England showdown providing a fitting finale.
By tightening the calendar and keeping the tempo high, organisers hope to deliver one of the most exciting and unrelenting Six Nations Championships yet.
2026 Six Nations Fixtures (All times GMT)
Round 1
Thursday 5 February
France v Ireland – 20:10
Saturday 7 February
Italy v Scotland – 14:10
England v Wales – 16:40
Round 2
Saturday 14 February
Ireland v Italy – 14:10
Scotland v England – 16:40
Sunday 15 February
Wales v France – 15:10
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