If you’re anything like me, summer sport has a habit of sneaking up on you. One minute, it’s we should watch that, and the next, you’ve missed half of it because you didn’t know what day it was on (or what channel it was even showing on).
So I’ve put together this UK Summer Sports TV Guide as an easy, bookmarkable place to find what’s on this summer, the rough dates, and where to watch in the UK. I’ll keep this as up to date as I can, but do note that fixtures and broadcast schedules can change, so it’s always worth double-checking listings closer to the time.
And if you fancy turning any of these big sporting moments into an actual event, I shared how we hosted our own Summer of Sports watch party. With big-screen viewing, great sound, easy snacks, simple games, and a free printable to make it feel themed without loads of effort.
UK Summer Sports Guide
Football (UK)
Men’s World Cup (June-July 2026)
Where to watch: UK broadcaster(s) vary by tournament (check listings closer to the time)
Tip: This is the ultimate ‘host a few nights’ event. Pick one group game, one knockout match, and the final, and reuse the same setup each time.
Premier League (Aug-May)
Where to watch: Sky Sports, TNT Sports
Tip: Great for evening watch parties and weekend snack-board afternoons (yes, I’m making that officially a thing).
EFL (Championship/League One/League Two) (Aug-May)
Where to watch: Sky Sports (coverage varies)
Women’s Super League (WSL) (Sept-May)
Where to watch: Sky Sports + BBC (coverage varies by match/highlights)
Got a self-proclaimed football expert in the house? Put them on the spot with this guess the football club game while you’re waiting for kick-off.
Tennis
Wimbledon (Mon 29 June – Sun 12 July 2026)
Where to watch: BBC (BBC One/BBC Two/BBC iPlayer)
US Open (late Aug – early Sept)
Where to watch: Sky Sports (typically)
Tip: Perfect for a daytime grazing board party if you’re home in the afternoons.
Wheelchair tennis (year-round; peaks around big tournaments)
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer/BBC Sport sometimes include wheelchair matches during Wimbledon; otherwise, check LTA channels/streams for UK events (coverage varies)
Tip: For a guaranteed ‘everyone can follow along’ watch, pick doubles. It’s fast, tactical, and really fun even for non-tennis people.
Formula 1
F1 season (roughly Mar-Dec)
Where to watch: Sky Sports F1 (live)
Highlights: Channel 4 (highlights; occasional live race weekends may vary)
Tip: Brilliant for Sunday watch parties – set the playlist for pre-race, then switch to race sound.
Cricket (big UK summer energy)
England international summer (June-Sept, dates vary)
Includes Tests / ODIs / T20s
Where to watch: Sky Sports (home internationals are typically on Sky)
England Women international summer (May-Sept, dates vary)
Includes ODIs / T20s (and occasional Tests, depending on the summer)
Where to watch: Sky Sports (coverage varies by series)
The Hundred (late July – late Aug, dates vary)
Where to watch: BBC (some matches) + Sky Sports (full coverage)
Tip: This is made for garden hangs. Day matches + BBQ + speaker on.
Note: The Hundred includes both men’s and women’s matches across the tournament.
Rugby
Rugby League Challenge Cup Final (usually May/June)
Where to watch: BBC (often)
Rugby Union summer tours (June/July, varies)
Where to watch: Sky Sports / TNT Sports / Amazon Prime Video, depending on the tour and rights
Wheelchair rugby (dates vary; often peaks around Paralympics/major championships)
Where to watch: Coverage varies (often Channel 4 during Paralympics; otherwise online streams depending on the event)
Tip: This is a great one for a party because it’s high-energy and easy to get into quickly.
Golf
The Open Championship (mid-late July; dates vary year to year)
Where to watch: Sky Sports Golf
Tip: A calmer watch-party option. Great for a drop-in-graze-chat kinda vibe.
Cycling
Tour de France (usually late June – late July; dates vary)
Where to watch: ITV4 (highlights/coverage) + Eurosport / discovery+ (often broader/live coverage)
Tour de France Femmes (usually late July / early Aug; dates vary)
Where to watch: Eurosport / discovery+ (often broader/live coverage; other coverage can vary)
Athletics
Diamond League meetings (summer months, varies)
Where to watch: BBC (often) / other rights holders depending on the event
Tip: Great background viewing for a general Summer of Sports party where football isn’t the only focus.
Paralympic Games (next edition: late Aug-early Sept, dates vary by host year)
Where to watch: Channel 4 (UK home of Paralympics coverage)
Tip: If you only pick one para event to plan a proper watch party around, make it this one. There’s always loads on, it’s easy to dip in and out, and the coverage is usually brilliant.
World Para Athletics (usually summer, dates vary)
Where to watch: Coverage varies by year (often Channel 4 for major events; otherwise, check World Para Athletics / YouTube streams)
Tip: Look for the evening sessions. They’re the most watchable and perfect for a snack board + big screen setup.
Para athletics meets (Grand Prix / major meets) (summer months, varies)
Where to watch: Coverage varies (often streamed online; sometimes picked up by UK broadcasters for bigger meets)
Tip: If you want something easy, search “para athletics live stream” on the day. A lot of meets are available online even when they’re not on TV.
Which sports events will you watch this summer?
Choose 2 or 3 dates across the summer (eg, one football night, one tennis afternoon, one Sunday motorsport), then reuse the same setup: big screen + big sound + snack board + one quick game.
Have fun!
Sources:
- https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/the_championships/dates
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/f1-and-sky-agree-new-long-term-partnership-across-uk-ireland-and-italy.Yd2VK2z6QxZkrR6zH2ssr
- https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/04/premier-league-agrees-67bn-tv-rights-deal-with-sky-and-tnt-sports
- https://www.channel4.com/ (Paralympics coverage hub varies by year/event)
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05b8smj/episodes/guide (example of BBC wheelchair tennis programming)
- https://www.lta.org.uk/fan-zone/watch-live/ (UK tennis streaming hub)
Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Lucy Clarke
