Six Nations fixtures and how to follow on the BBC

The 2026 Six Nations gets under way on Thursday, 5 February with England, France and Ireland the favourites to win the title.

Defending champions France take on 2024 winners Ireland in the opening match at the Stade de France in Paris.

On Saturday, 7 February, Scotland travel to Rome to face Italy, seeking to get their bid for a first Six Nations title off to a flying start.

England, who are on an 11-match winning run and targeting a first title since 2020, take on Wales at Allianz Stadium in Saturday's second match.

There will be only one fallow week this year, which will take place after the third round of matches on 21-22 February.

The last round of games is on Saturday, 14 March, with France v England at the Stade de France the final match.

France, Ireland and Wales all have three home games while England and Italy have two each.

Round 1

Thursday 5 February

20:10 - France v Ireland, Stade de France, Paris

Saturday 7 February

14:10 - Italy v Scotland, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

16:40 - England v Wales, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Round 2

Saturday 14 February

14:10 - Ireland v Italy, Aviva Stadium, Dublin

16:40 - Scotland v England, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Sunday 15 February

15:10 - Wales v France, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Round 3

Saturday 21 February

14:10 - England v Ireland, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

16:40 - Wales v Scotland, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Sunday 22 February

15:10 - France v Italy, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

Round 4

Friday 6 March

20:10 - Ireland v Wales, Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday 7 March

14:10 - Scotland v France, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

16:40 - Italy v England, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Round 5

Saturday 14 March

14:10 - Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin

16:40 - Wales v Italy, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

20:10 - France v England, Stade de France, Paris

All times GMT and subject to late changes

BBC Sport will show one match per round on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, starting with Italy v Scotland on 7 February.

Following the signing of a new four-year deal last year, all other matches, including every England game, will be broadcast on ITV.

Six Nations Rugby Special will show highlights of the matches every Sunday evening on either BBC Four or BBC Two.

The BBC Sport website and app will have live text commentary of every match as well as reports, statistics, expert analysis, match clips and video highlights.

BBC Radio will have live commentary on every match, with rugby correspondent Chris Jones leading the coverage.

The BBC Rugby Weekly podcast will become a daily offering from 2 February.

In addition, there will be further live coverage and analysis on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Ulster throughout the championship.

There will also be live coverage of every match of the Under-20s Six Nations on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, starting with two matches on Friday, 6 February.

Sat 7 February: Italy v Scotland, BBC One from 13:30

Sun 15 February: Wales v France, BBC One from 14:30

Sat 21 February: Wales v Scotland, BBC One from 16:00

Sat 7 March: Scotland v France, BBC One from 13:00

Sat 14 March: Wales v Italy, BBC One from 16:00

All times GMT and subject to late changes

France won the 2025 Six Nations thanks to a bonus-point win over Scotland in the final match of the Championship.

France, England and defending champions Ireland all only lost one game, but Fabien Galthie's side picked up a bonus point in every game including a losing bonus in their 26-25 defeat by England at Allianz Stadium.

England finished second - their best position since the last time they won the tournament in 2020.

Ireland, who were led by interim head coach Simon Easterby while Andy Farrell was away with the British and Irish Lions, came third, but had the consolation of winning the Triple Crown after beating England, Scotland and Wales.

Scotland beat Italy and Wales to finish fourth for the second year running.

Italy beat Wales in round two and picked up a losing bonus point against Ireland to finish in fifth place.

Wales secured three bonus points but suffered five straight defeats for the second successive year as they retained the Wooden Spoon.

Teams earn four points for a win and two for a draw.

Teams earn one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and for losing by seven points or fewer.

A team that completes a Grand Slam by beating all five other nations is awarded three extra bonus points to guarantee them the title.

France's triumph in 2025 was their seventh since the championship became the Six Nations.

Their victory drew them level with England for the most titles won since Italy joined the tournament in 2000.

Wales and Ireland have both won six Six Nations, while Scotland and Italy have never lifted the trophy.

Wales and France lead the way when it comes to Grand Slams with four each, Ireland have three and England two.

Ireland have won the Triple Crown eight times, with England and Wales on five each. Scotland have yet to lift the Triple Crown trophy.

The trend of looking back 10 years has brought back some happy memories for England players of that generation.

The 2016 Six Nations was the last time that England secured a Grand Slam.

2025: France

2024: Ireland

2023: Ireland*

2022: France*

2021: Wales

2020: England

2019: Wales*

2018: Ireland*

2017: England

2016: England*

* Grand Slam (winning all five matches)