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UK TV guide 2026/27

How to watch the FA Cup in the UK

TNT Sports is the main broadcaster of the FA Cup in the UK, with live ties from the First Round to the final, streamed on HBO Max. The BBC shows 14 matches a season free to air: two from each round up to the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final. Rights checked on 2 October 2026; the channel for each match below is re-read every few hours.

Who shows it

TNT SportsLive ties from every round, from the First Round to the final at Wembley, under a four-year deal that started in 2025/26 and runs to 2028/29; it has first pick of each round.Go to the site →free to airBBC14 matches a season live and free to air, shared with TNT Sports: two from each round up to the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final.Go to the site →

Streaming

HBO Max and BBC iPlayer
HBO MaxEvery TNT Sports match; with a TNT Sports plan; HBO Max replaced discovery+ as the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK in March 2026.Go to the site →freeBBC iPlayerThe BBC's live matches and its highlights; free, with a TV licence.Go to the site →

Who shows which round

First Round to the quarter-finals→TNT Sports, with two ties a round also on the BBC
Semi-finals→TNT Sports, with one of the two also on the BBC
Final→BBC and TNT Sports
Ties left at 3pm on a Saturday→not shown live in the UK

Ties that keep a 3pm Saturday kick-off are not shown live in the UK: the broadcast deal covers the matches played outside that slot. The ties picked for television are moved to other times, and the picks are announced after each round's draw.

The next ties

The competition proper has not started yet: the First Round is on Saturday, 7 November 2026, when the League One and League Two clubs join the non-league sides that come through qualifying. Premier League and Championship clubs enter in the Third Round, on Saturday, 9 January 2027. The qualifying rounds being played now are not listed here. The channel of each televised tie appears here once TNT Sports and the BBC announce their picks, after the draw.

Highlights and what is free

The BBC has highlights and clips on its platforms, and the FA publishes highlights on its official Emirates FA Cup YouTube channel.

Yes: 14 matches a season are live and free on the BBC, on television and on BBC iPlayer, including the final. Every other televised tie needs TNT Sports.

The questions people ask

What channel is the FA Cup on in the UK?
TNT Sports: live ties from every round, from the First Round to the final at Wembley, under a four-year deal that started in 2025/26 and runs to 2028/29; it has first pick of each round. BBC: 14 matches a season live and free to air, shared with TNT Sports: two from each round up to the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final.
How can I stream the FA Cup in the UK?
HBO Max: every TNT Sports match, with a TNT Sports plan; HBO Max replaced discovery+ as the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK in March 2026. BBC iPlayer: the BBC's live matches and its highlights, free, with a TV licence.
Can I watch the FA Cup for free in the UK?
Yes: 14 matches a season are live and free on the BBC, on television and on BBC iPlayer, including the final. Every other televised tie needs TNT Sports.
Why are Saturday 3pm FA Cup matches not on TV?
Ties that keep a 3pm Saturday kick-off are not shown live in the UK: the broadcast deal covers the matches played outside that slot. The ties picked for television are moved to other times, and the picks are announced after each round's draw.
Where can I watch FA Cup highlights?
The BBC has highlights and clips on its platforms, and the FA publishes highlights on its official Emirates FA Cup YouTube channel.
How do I stream the TNT Sports matches?
On HBO Max, with a TNT Sports plan; HBO Max replaced discovery+ as the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK in March 2026. It carries every TNT Sports match.

Sources: thefa.com · sportspro.com · thefa.com · tntsports.co.uk. Rights and prices change: check the broadcaster before you subscribe. We earn nothing from these links. This guide is for viewers in the United Kingdom; times on this page are UK time.