The 2026 Six Nations will kick off with a historic Thursday night clash as Ireland take on reigning champions France on February 5.
Ireland and France, who have claimed the last four Six Nations titles, will meet in a high-profile showdown at 20:10 GMT—moved forward to avoid overlapping with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan the next day. The schedule change aims to attract the largest possible viewership in France.
Last year’s tournament finale, where France defeated Scotland to clinch the championship, set a French viewership record for the Six Nations, drawing 9.5 million live viewers (a 46% audience share) on France 2. Meanwhile, the 2025 edition saw a 6.3% rise in overall domestic viewership.
Additionally, the 2026 tournament will feature just one rest weekend instead of the usual two.
2026 Six Nations Fixtures – Full Schedule (All Times GMT)
Round 1
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Thursday 5 February: France vs Ireland (20:10)
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Saturday 7 February:
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Italy vs Scotland (14:10)
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England vs Wales (16:40)
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Round 2
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Saturday 14 February:
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Ireland vs Italy (14:10)
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Scotland vs England (16:40)
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Sunday 15 February: Wales vs France (15:10)
Round 3
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Saturday 21 February:
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England vs Ireland (14:10)
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Wales vs Scotland (16:40)
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Sunday 22 February: France vs Italy (15:10)
Round 4
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Friday 6 March: Ireland vs Wales (20:10)
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Saturday 7 March:
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Scotland vs France (14:10)
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Italy vs England (16:40)
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Round 5 (Super Saturday)
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Saturday 14 March:
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Ireland vs Scotland (14:10)
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Wales vs Italy (16:40)
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France vs England (20:10)
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Tournament Highlights:
• Historic Thursday night opener (France v Ireland)
• Friday night fixture in Round 4 (Ireland v Wales)
• Traditional “Super Saturday” climax with three back-to-back matches
• Single rest weekend between Rounds 2 and 3
• All matches broadcast in GMT time zone
Revised Tournament Structure for 2026 Six Nations
The 2026 championship will feature a streamlined schedule with just one rest weekend (28 February – 1 March) instead of the traditional two breaks. The new format will see:
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Three consecutive rounds of matches to open the tournament
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A single fallow weekend
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Two uninterrupted final rounds culminating in a decisive ‘Super Saturday’ finale featuring France versus England
This condensed schedule aims to maintain stronger tournament momentum and keep fans engaged throughout. Under the previous format, teams would have had rest weekends both before and after the third round.
Opening Weekend Details
Following the historic Thursday night curtain-raiser between France and Ireland on 5 February, the opening round continues on Saturday 7 February with:
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Scotland visiting Italy (14:10 GMT)
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England welcoming Wales (16:40 GMT)
Venue Uncertainty for French Matches
The French Rugby Federation has yet to confirm host stadiums, having not reached agreement on continuing at the Stade de France. Alternative venues under consideration include Marseille, Lille and Lyon – all capable of hosting 50,000+ spectators but falling short of the Stade de France’s 80,000 capacity and revenue potential. These stadiums previously hosted 2024 Six Nations matches during Olympic preparations in Paris.
Women’s Tournament Rescheduled
In a significant calendar change:
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The 2026 Women’s Six Nations will begin three weeks later (April-May)
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This aligns with the new global women’s rugby calendar
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Impacts England’s Premier 15s season, extending it to late June with:
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A mid-season rest weekend
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Additional league fixtures
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Playoffs concluding with a 27 June final
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