The 2026 Women’s Six Nations Championship officially began on April 11, 2026, and is scheduled to conclude on May 17, 2026. The tournament features 15 total matches played across five rounds of elite international rugby between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Following the opening round, France currently leads the table with 5 points after a 40–7 win over Italy, closely followed by England, who defeated Ireland 33–12. Scotland also secured an away victory against Wales (19–24) to round out the first week of action.

This comprehensive guide provides the full fixture list for the remaining rounds of the 2026 Championship, including kick-off times, stadium venues, and television broadcast details. Whether you are looking for ticket information for upcoming clashes at iconic venues like Murrayfield and Ashton Gate, or seeking the best way to stream the matches for free via the BBC iPlayer or RTÉ Player, this authoritative profile covers every detail of the 2026 Women’s Six Nations journey.

2026 Full Fixture List and Results

The 2026 tournament structure follows a five-week format with breaks for recovery. The opening round saw dominant performances from the top seeds, while the upcoming fixtures in Round 2 and Round 3 are expected to determine the front-runners for the Grand Slam. Notably, for the first time in tournament history, several teams are hosting standalone fixtures at their national stadiums to accommodate record-breaking crowd interests.

Round 1 Results (Completed)

  • France 40–7 Italy: April 11, Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
  • England 33–12 Ireland: April 11, Allianz Stadium, London
  • Wales 19–24 Scotland: April 11, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Round 2 Fixtures

  • Scotland vs England: Saturday, April 18 (1:30 PM BST) – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
  • Wales vs France: Saturday, April 18 (3:35 PM BST) – Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
  • Ireland vs Italy: Saturday, April 18 (5:40 PM BST) – Dexcom Stadium, Galway

Round 3 Fixtures

  • England vs Wales: Saturday, April 25 (2:15 PM BST) – Ashton Gate, Bristol
  • Italy vs Scotland: Saturday, April 25 (5:30 PM CET) – Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
  • France vs Ireland: Saturday, April 25 (9:10 PM CET) – Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand

Round 4 Fixtures

  • Italy vs England: Saturday, May 9 (3:00 PM CET) – Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
  • Scotland vs France: Saturday, May 9 (4:15 PM BST) – Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
  • Ireland vs Wales: Saturday, May 9 (6:30 PM BST) – Affidea Stadium, Belfast

Round 5 Fixtures (Super Saturday)

  • Wales vs Italy: Sunday, May 17 (12:15 PM BST) – Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
  • Ireland vs Scotland: Sunday, May 17 (2:30 PM BST) – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
  • France vs England: Sunday, May 17 (5:45 PM CET) – Matmut-Atlantique, Bordeaux

How to Watch and Live Stream

The 2026 Championship is highly accessible, with comprehensive free-to-air coverage across the primary participating nations. In the United Kingdom, the BBC holds the exclusive rights to every match. Fans can watch live on traditional channels such as BBC One and BBC Two, while every single game is available via the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. For Welsh fans, S4C provides Welsh-language commentary for all Wales fixtures.

In Ireland, broadcast duties are shared between RTÉ and Virgin Media. Every Irish fixture is free-to-air, with live streams available on the RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play. International viewers can access the tournament through various partners: France TV in France, Peacock in the United States, Stan Sport in Australia, and Sky Sport in New Zealand. Highlights are typically uploaded to the official Six Nations YouTube channel within hours of the final whistle.

Venues and Ticket Information

The 2026 tournament utilizes a mix of historic national stadiums and specialized regional grounds to maximize fan engagement. England’s home games are split between the high-capacity Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) and the vibrant Ashton Gate in Bristol. Ireland will make use of three different locations: Galway, Belfast, and finally the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for their Round 5 clash against Scotland.

Tickets for the 2026 Women’s Six Nations are generally more affordable than the men’s equivalent, with adult prices ranging from £15 to £35 for regional venues and slightly higher for the national stadiums. Tickets can be purchased through the official ticketing portals of each individual union (e.g., England Rugby, Scottish Rugby). Due to the surge in popularity of women’s rugby, it is recommended to book at least 2–3 weeks in advance for “Super Saturday” fixtures.

Practical Information for Fans

CategoryDetails
Tournament DatesApril 11 – May 17, 2026
UK BroadcasterBBC (TV & iPlayer)
Ireland BroadcasterRTÉ and Virgin Media
Final MatchFrance vs England (Bordeaux)
Ticket PortalIndividual Union Websites

Traveling to Venues

Most stadiums in the 2026 circuit are well-connected by rail. For Murrayfield, the Edinburgh tram system provides direct access from the city center. For Ashton Gate, shuttle buses run from Bristol Temple Meads station on match days. Fans traveling to Bordeaux for the finale should utilize the local tram line C to reach the Matmut-Atlantique stadium.

Matchday Tips

Arrive at least 60–90 minutes before kick-off to navigate security and enjoy the pre-match “fan zones,” which often feature live music and player Q&As. Most venues in the 2026 Championship are cashless, so ensure you have a contactless card or mobile payment device for food and merchandise.

Women’s Six Nations format explained

The Women’s Six Nations follows the same basic format as the men’s competition: six national teams play each other once in a single round‑robin tournament. Each team stages three home matches and three away fixtures, with the winner decided by total points accumulated from wins, draws, and bonus points for scoring four or more tries or losing by a narrow margin. Ties in the table can be separated by points difference, tries scored, or head‑to‑head record, depending on the championship rules for the season.

Fixtures are traditionally played on Saturdays, with the opening weekend often including a midweek match (normally a Thursday or Friday) to kick off the competition. The season is split into three rounds spread across February, March, and early April, with the final round often delivering the most drama as the Grand Slam winner and final standings are decided. In recent years the competition has moved toward largely daylight kick‑offs to boost attendance and TV visibility, with the main weekend games typically starting in the late morning or early afternoon.

2026 Women’s Six Nations schedule

The 2026 Women’s Six Nations runs from early February to early April, with the opening weekend fixtures staged around the first or second Saturday of February. The championship begins with a midweek match followed by three Saturday games, setting the tone for the season as teams battle for early‑round points. The second round usually takes place in late February or early March, with the third and final round running through March and into early April, including the crunch games that often decide the title and Grand Slam.

Each match window follows a similar pattern: one or two games on the opening day of the round, then the bulk of the action on the main weekend, with final matches on the closing day. Specific dates are set months in advance and published by the Six Nations organisers, with slight variations year‑to‑year to accommodate TV and venue availability. The 2026 edition is expected to retain the same structure, with no mid‑season breaks, allowing for a continuous, competitive campaign that builds momentum toward the final weekend.

Home fixtures and key venues

Each of the six nations hosts three Women’s Six Nations fixtures in a given season, with the home venues rotating depending on the host year. England typically plays at Twickenham Stoop, Richmond, and occasionally Twickenham Stadium for marquee matches, benefiting from one of the largest and most modern rugby‑specific arenas in Europe. Wales spreads its games between Cardiff’s Principality Stadium and Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, while Ireland often uses the Aviva Stadium in Dublin plus a provincial ground such as the RDS Arena or a regional venue.

France tends to host matches at Stade de la Marche, Stade du Hameau, or other regional stadiums, with larger games sometimes shifted to bigger arenas like Stade de France to maximize crowd size. Scotland favours Murrayfield in Edinburgh as its primary home venue, with occasional games in smaller cities for community‑engagement purposes. Italy rotates between venues such as Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa, Stadio Euganeo in Padua, and other northern‑Italian stadiums depending on ticket demand and local support. Each of these locations brings a distinct atmosphere, from the packed, festival‑like environment of Twickenham to the historic feel of stadiums in the Celtic nations.

Typical matchday timings and structure

Women’s Six Nations matchdays usually begin with gates opening around 2–3 hours before kick‑off, allowing fans to enter the stadium, find their seats, and enjoy pre‑match food and entertainment. The main games are scheduled for the late morning or early afternoon, often with kick‑off at 12:00 or 14:00 local time, though flagship fixtures can be shifted to later slots such as 15:00 or 16:00, especially if they are being broadcast in prime time. Midweek opening games are normally set in the evening, with kick‑off around 18:00 or 19:00.

The game itself lasts 80 minutes, divided into two 40‑minute halves with a 10‑minute halftime break. Additional time is added at the end of each half to account for stoppages, injuries, or video‑referral reviews. The halftime interval is often used for fan‑zone activities, team‑walkouts, and announcements, while the post‑match period may include short interviews, awards, and supporter‑photo opportunities, especially for marquee matches such as title‑decider or Grand Slam‑decider games. This structure ensures that fans can plan travel, meals, and other commitments around a predictable timeframe, usually allowing 3–4 hours from arriving at the stadium to leaving after the final whistle.

Ticketing, prices, and planning

Tickets for the Women’s Six Nations are sold through the home‑team national‑union websites and official ticket platforms, with availability and prices varying by host nation and stadium. In England, general‑admission tickets often start in the 15–40 pound range, with cheaper options for children and concessions and higher prices for covered or premium seating. In Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, adult tickets frequently begin around 10–35 pounds, with similar child‑and‑concession breaks, while France and Italy can have slightly different structures depending on venue size and demand.

Hospitality and VIP packages typically top out in the 80–150 pound range or higher, including match‑day meal service, dedicated lounges, and sometimes meet‑and‑greet opportunities or behind‑the‑scenes experiences. Away supporters tickets are usually allocated in a specific stand, with sales handled through the home‑team or visiting‑team ticket office depending on the nations involved. Most unions recommend buying tickets in advance, especially for high‑profile clashes such as England vs France, France vs Ireland, or the final Grand Slam‑ decide matches, which can sell out quickly.

For fans planning to attend multiple games, multi‑match or season‑style passes are occasionally offered, allowing discounts for repeat attendance at the same venue or across the host nation’s fixtures. These options are particularly useful for families, school groups, and corporate outings, as they simplify payments and streamline the booking process. Early‑release or pre‑sale windows for members and loyalty‑scheme subscribers are also common, with priority access sometimes extended to supporters of the host club or national‑team associations.

How to get to Women’s Six Nations stadiums

Accessibility to Women’s Six Nations stadiums varies by country and city, but most major venues are well connected by public transport. In London, the Twickenham Stoop and Twickenham area are served by trains to Barnes, Richmond, and Twickenham, as well as by bus and coach routes, with additional matchday‑special shuttle services often running from nearby stations. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium is easily reachable from Cardiff Central and Canton stations, with walking routes and bus links clearly marked to guide fans from the train lines to the stadium concourse.

In Dublin, the Aviva Stadium sits close to Lansdowne Road and Heuston stations, with tram and bus routes operating into the city centre and stadium precinct. Edinburgh’s Murrayfield is a short bus or tram ride from the city centre, with trains to Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley feeding into the local‑transport network. In France and Italy, national‑rail hubs such as Paris Gare du Nord or Bordeaux Saint‑Jean and Italian high‑speed‑rail stations often connect to regional‑service trains that stop near the host stadiums, while local bus networks and taxis fill in the last‑mile links.

Driving is an option for many supporters, but on‑site parking is limited and often expensive, so many fans park in nearby city‑centre car parks and then walk or use short‑distance public transport. Matchday‑specific traffic control and restricted‑access zones around the stadium are common, with signs and stewards directing vehicles to official parking areas. For those arriving from further afield, overnight stays in nearby hotels or guesthouses are popular, especially for marquee weekend fixtures, with many establishments offering match‑day packages tied to the Women’s Six Nations dates.

What to expect on matchday

Women’s Six Nations matchdays are vibrant, family‑friendly events with a strong community and sporting atmosphere. Fans arrive early to soak up the pre‑match buzz, with club stalls, food vendors, and live music often lining the outside of the stadium or in designated fan‑zones. Inside the stands, supporter groups wave banners, sing team anthems, and engage in friendly rivalry with traveling fans, creating an energetic environment that is welcoming to first‑time visitors and young supporters.

The on‑pitch action is fast, physical, and technically high‑quality, with the top teams combining disciplined defence, dynamic back‑field play, and set‑piece prowess. Referees use the try‑line video‑referee system to review key moments, while the crowd reacts to tries, conversions, and dramatic late‑game turnovers with loud, sustained applause. At halftime and after the final whistle, fans often stay in the stadium briefly to cheer the players, take photos, and enjoy the atmosphere before dispersing to bars, restaurants, or public‑transport drop‑off points.

For families and children, many stadiums offer dedicated family zones, mascots, and interactive activities, along with clear signage for restrooms, first‑aid points, and spectator‑assistance desks. Stewards and event staff help manage queues, enforce safety rules, and guide fans to the correct stands and exits. The overall experience is designed to feel inclusive and accessible, reflecting the growth of the Women’s Six Nations as a mainstream rugby competition rather than a niche sideline event.

TV and streaming coverage

Women’s Six Nations fixtures are widely available on television and via streaming platforms, with broadcasters in each country typically holding rights to their home games and some away matches. In the United Kingdom, national‑sports channels usually show multiple fixtures each round, including the England‑hosted games and key title‑decider clashes, often with both live and on‑demand streaming available through affiliated apps. Irish, Welsh, and Scottish broadcasters follow a similar pattern, offering comprehensive coverage of their national‑team matches, with additional highlight packages and post‑match analysis.

France and Italy usually have their own national‑sports networks that broadcast home‑fixture weekends, sometimes with multilingual commentary tracks or international‑feed options. Across Europe, dedicated sports‑streaming services provide access to the Women’s Six Nations for subscribers, often including live games, classic‑match replays, and supplementary content such as behind‑the‑scenes documentaries and player interviews. In some regions, international‑rights‑holding platforms allow fans to watch all six matches in a round, subject to geo‑blocking rules and subscription requirements.

For fans who cannot watch live, many broadcasters now offer short‑form highlights, condensed‑match replays, and social‑media clips that capture tries, key moments, and post‑match celebrations. National‑union websites and official tournament channels also publish live scores, team‑announcements, and updated standings throughout the matchday windows, allowing supporters to follow the action even if they are unable to view the full game.

Rules, standings, and championship outcomes

In the Women’s Six Nations, each team earns four points for a win, two points for a draw, and none for a loss, with bonus points awarded for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or fewer. If teams are tied on points at the end of the six‑game round‑robin, the tie‑breaker is usually points difference, then tries‑scored differential, and then head‑to‑head results, though the exact order can vary slightly year‑to‑year based on the tournament regulations. A Grand Slam is achieved when a team wins all six of its matches, and a championship is won by the team at the top of the table after the final round.

The 2026 edition is expected to retain the same points‑system and tie‑breaker logic, promoting both attacking rugby and resilience in close games. The number of bonus points a team collects can be decisive in tight races, especially when several sides are separated by just a few points. In recent seasons, matches decided by small margins have often been crucial in determining the eventual title winner or Grand Slam recipient, underlining the importance of consistency across the full six‑match schedule.

Seven‑sided awards and rankings are also tracked over the course of the tournament, with individual and team‑level statistics such as tries‑scored, tackle success, and set‑piece efficiency analysed by pundits and media outlets. These metrics help fans understand which teams are most effective in specific phases of play, while also informing future squad selections and coaching‑strategy decisions. As the Women’s Six Nations continues to grow, the blend of traditional‑style table‑placing and deeper statistical storytelling enriches the overall narrative of the competition.

Growth and future of the Women’s Six Nations

The Women’s Six Nations has grown rapidly from a small‑scale, low‑profile tournament into a major international rugby competition that attracts large crowds and significant broadcast audiences. In the mid‑2020s, several fixtures regularly sell out or come close, with attendances often exceeding 10,000 fans even for non‑marquee matches. The tournament’s success has been driven by improvements in player‑development pathways, greater investment in women’s rugby structures, and increased media coverage that showcases the athleticism and intensity of the women’s game.

Looking ahead, the 2026 season and beyond are likely to bring further investment in venues, broadcasting quality, and grassroots engagement, including more school‑outreach programmes, women‑and‑girls‑only development camps, and community‑linked initiatives tied to each match weekend. The tournament is also expected to maintain its alignment with the men’s Six Nations calendar, allowing families and fans to attend both men’s and women’s fixtures over the same periods and reinforcing the idea that women’s rugby belongs on the same stage as its male counterpart.

For new and potential fans, this growth means that the Women’s Six Nations is becoming easier to follow, attend, and understand, with clearer fixture calendars, more accessible ticketing, and better‑produced TV coverage. As the sport’s profile rises, the 2026 season is likely to be viewed as another important step toward gender parity in international rugby, with the Women’s Six Nations fixtures at the heart of that progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026 Women’s Six Nations start and end? 

The championship began on April 11, 2026, and is scheduled to conclude with a final day of action on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

How can I watch the 2026 matches for free? 

In the UK, every match is available for free on the BBC iPlayer, with many also broadcast on BBC One and BBC Two. In Ireland, games are shared between RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play, while fans in France can watch on France TV.

Is there a “Super Saturday” or “Super Sunday” in 2026? 

Yes, the 2026 format features a “triple header” of action for every round. The first four rounds take place on Saturdays, while the final round (Round 5) is branded as Super Sunday, falling on May 17.

Which stadiums are hosting matches in Ireland? 

Ireland is utilizing a variety of venues for its home fixtures in 2026, including Dexcom Stadium (Galway), Ravenhill/Affidea Stadium (Belfast), and the Aviva Stadium (Dublin).

How many points does a team get for a win? 

A standard win earns 4 points. Teams can also earn a bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match, or a losing bonus point for finishing within seven points of the winner.

Final Thoughts

Guinness Women’s Six Nations has successfully navigated its opening round, setting the stage for one of the most competitive championships in recent history. France currently occupies the top spot on the leaderboard following a clinical 40–7 victory over Italy, while England remains a close second after a bonus-point win against Ireland. Scotland’s gritty 24–19 away win in Cardiff has positioned them as the tournament’s “dark horse,” making the upcoming Round 2 clash against England at Murrayfield a critical juncture for the standings.

The tournament’s trajectory suggests a “two-horse race” between the perennial powerhouses of France and England, though the improved conditioning and tactical maturity shown by Ireland and Scotland indicate that the gap is closing. With “Super Saturday” scheduled for May 17, 2026, in Bordeaux, all eyes are on the potential Grand Slam decider between Les Bleues and the Red Roses. As the championship progresses, fans can expect record-breaking television audiences and stadium attendances, further cementing the tournament’s status as a premier event in the global sporting calendar.

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By Ashif

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