The 42

IRELAND WILL FACE defending champions France on Thursday 5 February in the opening game of the 2026 Six Nations.

The venue for the game in France has yet to be confirmed.

Next year’s championship will involve a move to just one fallow week, rather than the usual two.

Andy Farrell’s Ireland will host Italy in Dublin on the second weekend of the Six Nations before visiting England in round three.

The single fallow weekend follows that trip to London, with Ireland then hosting Wales and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in the closing two rounds of the championship. The game against Wales will take place on the evening of Friday 6 March.

Ireland play Scotland first on the final weekend’s ‘Super Saturday,’ with France hosting England in the closing game of the championship.

Ireland’s opening fixture being on a Thursday night is partly due to the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony taking place the following evening in Italy. Six Nations organisers and broadcasters were keen to give the championship’s first fixture as much exposure as possible, meaning a shift to Thursday. 

Farrell’s men, who won the Six Nations in 2023 and 2024, will look to land a big opening blow as they take on Fabien Galthié’s reigning champions.

With only one fallow week involved from now on, the run of three Six Nations games in three consecutive weeks will be a new challenge for Ireland and the other five teams.

2026 Six Nations fixtures:

All times GMT

Round 1

• France v Ireland, Thursday 5 February, 8.10pm, TBC
• Italy v Scotland, Saturday 7 February, 2.10pm, Stadio Olimpico
• England v Wales, Saturday 7 February, 4.40pm, Allianz Stadium

Round 2

• Ireland v Italy, Saturday 14 February, 2.10pm, Aviva Stadium
• Scotland v England, Saturday 14 February, 4.40pm, Murrayfield
• Wales v France, Sunday 15 February, 3.10pm, Principality Stadium

Round 3

• England v Ireland, Saturday 21 February, 2.10pm, Allianz Stadium
• Wales v Scotland, Saturday 21 February, 4.40pm, Principality Stadium
• France v Italy, Sunday 22 February, 3.10pm, TBC

Round 4

• Ireland v Wales, Friday 6 March, 14 Feb, 8.10pm, Aviva Stadium
• Scotland v France, Saturday 7 March, 2.10pm, Murrayfield
• Italy v England, Saturday 7 March, 4.40pm, Stadio Olimpico

Round 5

• Ireland v Scotland, Saturday 14 March, 2.10pm, Aviva Stadium
• Wales v Italy, Saturday 14 March, 4.40pm, Principality Stadium
• France v England, Saturday 14 March, 8.10pm, TBC

Written by Murray Kinsella and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.