A competition more than a century old but some new features this year. The Six Nations Tournament is slightly reinventing itself in 2026 with a shorter format.
Traditionally contested over seven weeks, with a two-week break before and after the third day, it will now take place over six weeks with a single weekend of rest between the third and fourth days.
Thursday February 5
France
20h10
Ireland
Stade de France, Saint-Denis • France 2
Saturday February 7
Italy
14h10
Scotland
Stadio Olimpico, Rome • France 2
Saturday February 7
England
16h40
Wales
Allianz Stadium, London • France 2
Saturday February 14
Ireland
14h10
Italy
Aviva Stadium, Dublin • France 2
Saturday February 14
Scotland
16h40
England
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh • France 2
Sunday February 15
Wales
3:10 p.m.
France
Principality Stadium, Cardiff • France 2
Saturday February 21
England
14h10
Ireland
Allianz Stadium, London • France 2
Saturday February 21
Wales
16h40
Scotland
Principality Stadium, Cardiff • France 2
Sunday February 22
France
3:10 p.m.
Italy
Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille • France 2
Friday March 6
Ireland
20h10
Wales
Aviva Stadium, Dublin • France 2
Saturday March 7
Scotland
14h10
France
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh • France 2
Saturday March 7
Italy
16h40
England
Stadio Olimpico, Rome • France 2
Saturday March 14
Ireland
14h10
Scotland
Aviva Stadium, Dublin • France 2
Saturday March 14
Wales
16h40
Italy
Principality Stadium, Cardiff • France 2
Saturday March 14
France
20h10
England
Stade de France, Saint-Denis • France 2
Another “new thing”, the opening match – in this case the clash between France and Ireland – will exceptionally take place on a Thursday, February 5. The reason? The Six Nations committee decided to bring the meeting forward by 24 hours to avoid it conflicting with the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
France’s favorite bookmakers
In this even year, the XV of France will have a great opportunity to win, and why not to achieve the Grand Slam as in 2022, since it will host three times for only two trips.
Antoine Dupont’s teammates will face Ireland (Saint-Denis), Italy (Lille) and England (Saint-Denis) at home and will travel to Wales and Scotland.
In addition to France, the title holder and which acts as the bookmakers’ favorite given its favorable calendar, England, in the midst of a revival, and Ireland, still a sure bet in European rugby, are among the serious contenders for the title.
The winner will be crowned at the end of a “Super Saturday”, on March 14, which will see successive matches between Ireland and Scotland (3:10 p.m.), Wales and Italy (5:40 p.m.) then France and England (9:10 p.m.) for a potential final for the Grand Slam.
Worth a look
