Summary
France will host Ireland in the first-ever Thursday night game in Six Nations history on February 5, 2026. This scheduling change is made to avoid overlapping with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. The 2026 Six Nations tournament will have only one rest weekend, reducing it from two.
Key Facts
- The 2026 Six Nations tournament begins on February 5, 2026, with France vs. Ireland.
- This is the first Six Nations match ever to be played on a Thursday night.
- The schedule change prevents a conflict with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan.
- France's last Six Nations game saw their highest audience of 9.5 million viewers.
- The 2026 tournament will feature one rest weekend, unlike previous years which had two.
- Match venues in France are yet to be confirmed, as the French Rugby Federation is exploring options.
- The Women's Six Nations tournament will start in April 2026, three weeks later than in 2025.
- The Stade de France in Paris is unavailable due to Olympic preparations, causing venue changes for some games.
