Watch the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley: 2026 streaming guide
The 124th Challenge Cup Final caps a competition that's been running since 1897. Here's where to watch it free, how the tournament works, and how UK and global fans tune in.
The short version
The Challenge Cup Final is shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK — completely free. Sky Sports also carries it for subscribers. Outside the UK, it streams on Super League+, Foxtel/Kayo in Australia, and selected international broadcasters. Wembley kick-off is traditionally late afternoon UK time so global fans can catch it.
Country by country
What is the Challenge Cup?
The Challenge Cup is rugby league's oldest knock-out competition — the FA Cup of rugby league. First held in the 1896-97 season, it's open to clubs from across the rugby league pyramid: Super League sides enter at the round of 32, joined by Championship and League 1 clubs from earlier rounds, with amateur and community clubs given a path in too.
The romance of the cup is the upset potential. Lower-league sides occasionally knock out Super League opposition, and amateur sides have historically gone deep. The final has been played at Wembley Stadium most years since 1929, with brief moves to Twickenham, Edinburgh, or Cardiff during Wembley's redevelopment periods.
St Helens, Wigan Warriors, and Leeds Rhinos are the most successful clubs by Challenge Cup victories. Australian clubs cannot enter — it's a UK-and-France competition, with Catalans Dragons winning in 2018 as the first non-British club to lift the trophy.
Free vs paid in the UK
Free option (BBC): The Challenge Cup Final is on BBC One every year. BBC has held the rights for decades and the contract runs through 2026 with renewal expected. BBC iPlayer streams the same broadcast and lets you start over, pause, or rewind. Coverage usually begins around 2 hours before kick-off with a build-up show. Highlights are added to BBC iPlayer immediately after.
BBC also covers selected earlier rounds — typically the semi-finals and quarter-final ties involving Super League clubs are shown on BBC Two or BBC Sport online.
Paid option (Sky Sports): Sky covers more of the earlier rounds than BBC, including round of 32, round of 16, and quarter-final ties. If you want to follow the tournament from the start rather than tuning in for the final, Sky Sports gives you more matches.
For most casual fans the BBC free coverage of the final is plenty. For dedicated rugby league fans following multiple ties through the rounds, Sky's deeper coverage is the better fit.
Watching at Wembley
Wembley capacity for the Challenge Cup Final is typically restricted to the lower and middle tiers depending on demand — the 90,000-capacity stadium is rarely sold out for the final. Tickets sell through the RFL website and via the participating clubs. Prices start around £25-30 with premium seats and hospitality going much higher.
The final is normally a Saturday afternoon kick-off in late spring or early summer (May or June, depending on the calendar). Wembley Park station is right next to the stadium on the Metropolitan and Jubilee tube lines. Wembley Stadium overground station is also walking distance for fans coming from London Euston or Marylebone.