Rugby League World Cup on Sky

Sky will broadcast the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, it announced today.

Here’s the media release:

Sky secures exclusive New Zealand broadcast rights for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup

Sky has secured the exclusive New Zealand broadcast rights for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC2026), the pinnacle event in international Rugby League.

The tournament will run from 15 October to 15 November 2026, hosted across New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea, and will feature 26 teams competing in Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair Rugby League.

Sky customers will be able to enjoy coverage across the competition on Sky Sport and streaming on Sky Sport Now.

RLWC2026 promises to be the most competitive and exciting Rugby League World Cup to date, with powerhouse nations including New Zealand, Australia, England, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and PNG battling for glory.

The competition will feature prime-time fixtures, double/triple headers, and a condensed schedule to drive audience engagement and enjoyment.

Kiwi audiences will also be able to enjoy two home game double headers, with the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns scheduled to play twice in Christchurch’s One New Zealand stadium.

The Kiwis will be aiming to reclaim the title for the first time since 2008, while Kiwi Ferns will be aiming to make fourth time a charm to beat out the Jillaroos in the final for the Women’s crown.

Adam Crothers, Sky’s Head of Content Partnerships, said: “Rugby League is one of New Zealand’s most loved codes, and its popularity continues to soar.

“We’ve seen incredible growth in fan engagement here and across the Pacific, reflecting the global momentum driven by the NRL’s success and expansion.

“Securing the Rugby League World Cup for Kiwi audiences is great – it’s the biggest stage for the sport, and Sky is proud to bring every moment to fans across Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Andrew Abdo, NRL CEO, said: “International rugby league is the ultimate stage and representing your country is the ultimate honour.

“In less than a year, the Rugby League World Cup 2026 will deliver the most competitive international tournament in the game’s history.

“Rugby League is booming in New Zealand, and we are excited to be partnering with Sky to bring the best World Cup in history to Kiwi audiences.”

The Rugby League World Cup is the second oldest global sporting World Cup after FIFA, and with Rugby League’s unprecedented growth across the Pacific, RLWC2026 is set to captivate audiences like never before.